Boston Restaurant Talk

Wednesday, April 09, 2025

Unity Victuals in Danvers Has Closed

A North Shore restaurant that focused in part on seafood has shut down after only a short time in business.

According to a message sent from @IrishEyesPhoto1, Unity Victuals in Danvers is no longer in business, with a check on the website for the Maple Street spot indeed saying that "we are no longer open." Unity Victuals, which offered such items as seafood bisque, haddock po' boys, and a veal and lobster plate, first opened last fall in the space that had been home to I Pazzi before it moved to a new space on High Street. No reason has been given for its closure, nor is it known what might move into the space.

The address for the now-closed Unity Victuals was 50 Maple Street, Danvers, MA, 01923.

(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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Taco John's Opens in Downtown Boston

A bit more than a year ago, it was reported that a chain of quick-service Mexican restaurants whose roots are out west was planning to expand to downtown Boston, and now we have learned that the new location is up and running.

According to a source, Taco John's is now open on the eastern edge of Downtown Crossing, moving into a space on Summer Street that had previously been home to a hair salon. The new location joins two others in the region--in Lawrence and Leominster--and it offers such items as tacos, nachos, quesadillas, burritos, churros, and Potato Olés (fried potato nuggets with spices and sauce options).

Taco John's got its start as a taco stand in Cheyenne, WY, in 1969.

The address for the new location of Taco John's in downtown Boston is 75 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02110. The website for the chain can be found at https://tacojohns.com/

[Earlier Article]
Taco John's Plans to Open on Summer Street in Downtown Boston

(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.)

Bennett's Sandwich Shop to Open in the Former Grainmaker Space in Boston's Downtown Crossing

A small group of sandwiches shops with roots in Maine will be opening another location in the Greater Boston area, and this one will be in the heart of the city.

According to a Bluesky post from @conciergeboston.bsky.social, Bennett's Sandwich Shop is planning to open in Downtown Crossing, moving into the space on Summer Street that had been home to Grainmaker until it closed down approximately a year ago. Once it opens, the new location will join others locally in the Fenway and in Burlington, along with restaurants in Portsmouth, NH, Salem, NH, and Kennebunk, ME, the last of which is the original and has been a popular spot with beachgoers since 1982.

Bennett's Sandwich Shop is known in part for its lobster rolls and cheesesteaks.

The address for the upcoming location of Bennett's Sandwich Shop in Downtown Crossing is 91 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02110. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.bennettssandwichshop.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.)

Nine to Open in the Former No. 9 Park Space in Boston's Beacon Hill

A new restaurant is on its way to downtown Boston, and it will be moving into the space where one of the best-known dining spots in the city had been until closing down at the end of last year.

According to a post by Patrick Maguire within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Nine is planning to open in Beacon Hill, taking over the former No. 9 Park space on Park Street Place. A series of job posts on the culinaryagents.com site indicate that Nine will be a French fine-dining restaurant with other European influences and that it is the first spot from Nine Restaurant Group which has been established by a group of local investors. No other information on the new restaurant has been given as of yet, so keep checking back for updates.

No. 9 Park was one of several restaurants from chef/restaurateur Barbara Lynch, with all of her dining spots now being closed including The Butcher Shop, Stir, Drink, Menton, Sportello, and B&G Oysters in Boston along with The Rudder in Gloucester. (B&G Oysters continues to say that it is closed temporarily due to flood damage which occurred during the holidays.)

The address for Nine is 9 Park St Place, Boston, MA, 02108.

[Earlier Article]
Barbara Lynch to Close Her Two Remaining Restaurants -- No. 9 Park in Boston's Beacon Hill and B&G Oysters in the South End

(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.)

Tuesday, April 08, 2025

Park Bagelry to Open in Allston

A new bakery-cafe that will offer bagels and more is on its way to a new development in Allston.

According to a press release, Park Bagelry is planning to open at the Allston Labworks campus on Western Avenue, with the place being a new concept from Tiny Engine Collective (Diesel, Bloc, Forge Baking Co. & Ice Cream). In addition to bagels, Park Bagelry will also offer such options as ice cream and coffee, and its bagels will combine elements of sourdough, New York, and Montreal-style bagels.

If all goes as planned, the bakery-cafe will open sometime this summer.

Allston Labworks includes three buildings, with retail space on the ground floor that will include Park Bagelry as well as the upcoming FiDO Pizza.

(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.)

Slice House to Open in the Former Bull McCabe's Space in Somerville's Union Square

A Florida-based group of pizza spots will be expanding to the Boston area, opening a location in a Somerville space that had once been home to a pub and music spot.

According to an X/Twitter post from @CheeksMcGee9 (via a What Now Boston article), Slice House is planning to open in Union Square, moving into the former Bull McCabe's space on Somerville Avenue. The article says that the upcoming place will offer over 40 slice options including a few "Boston-specific surprises," while also keeping part of the old Bull McCabe's vibe by having a "late-night bar vibe." If all goes as planned, Slice House (which currently has three locations in Florida) will open in Somerville in late June.

Bull McCabe's closed in 2020 after being in business for 12 years.

The address for the upcoming Slice House is 366 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143. The website for the company can be found at https://www.slice.house/ while the Instagram page for the Somerville location is at https://www.instagram.com/unionsquareslice.house/

(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.)