Boston Restaurant Talk

Monday, March 24, 2025

Restaurant News for the Week Ending March 23, 2025

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between March 17, 2025, and March 23, 2025.

Kiin Is Getting Ready to Open in East Cambridge
A new Asian restaurant will soon be opening in Cambridge after being in the works for nearly two years.
Full Story

Cafe Reynard Opens Inside Idle Hands Craft Ales in Malden
A brand new cafe has opened just north of Boston, and it resides inside a brewery.
Full Story

The Panini Press Opens in the Former Take Away Space in Norwood
A new option for sandwiches has debuted southwest of Boston, taking over the space where a neighborhood restaurant known in part for its seafood had once been.
Full Story

LaRosa's in Andover to Expand, Opening a New Location in Newburyport
A new option for sandwiches has debuted southwest of Boston, taking over the space where a neighborhood restaurant known in part for its seafood had once been.
Full Story

The Bagel Table at The Street Chestnut Hill Has Closed
The first location of a local group of bagel shops has shut down.
Full Story

[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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Friday, March 21, 2025

PopUp Bagels to Open at Assembly Row in Somerville

A few days ago, it was reported that a growing group of bagel shops that started out as a backyard pickup window in Connecticut would be opening another Boston-area location, and now we have learned that yet another is on the way as well.

According to a press release, PopUp Bagels is planning to open in Somerville, moving into the former ARow Express convenience store space on Revolution Drive at Assembly Row. Once it opens, the new shop will join another in Boston's Seaport District, and it will either be the second or third standalone location locally depending on when another one in the works in Cambridge's Harvard Square gets up and running (both the Cambridge and Somerville locations are slated to open later this year).

PopUp Bagels, which started out in Westport in 2020 with founder Adam Goldberg selling bagels out of his house, also sells bagels within Captain Mardens in Wellesley.

The address for the upcoming PopUp Bagels at Assembly Row is 495 Revolution Drive, Somerville, MA, 02145. The website for the business is at https://www.popupbagels.com/

[Earlier Article]
PopUp Bagels Is Opening in Cambridge's Harvard Square

(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.)

Kiin Is Getting Ready to Open in East Cambridge

A new Asian restaurant will soon be opening in Cambridge after being in the works for nearly two years.

According to a Bluesky post from @troysch1.bsky.social, Kiin looks like it is close to opening in the former Similans space on First Street in East Cambridge, with an Instagram post from @bostonbudgetplumbing this week seeming to confirm this, saying that "Our team is all smiles as we help @kiinthaisushi make necessary plumbing + gas repairs for their grand opening in Cambridge!" The Instagram page for the restaurant mentions that the restaurant will feature sushi, ramen, and Thai food while also saying that it is affiliated with Chicken & Co in North Cambridge.

The address for Kiin is 145 First Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142. Its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/kiinthaisushi/

[Earlier Article]Kiin Thai Plans to Open in the Former Similans Space in East Cambridge

(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.)

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Cafe Reynard Opens Inside Idle Hands Craft Ales in Malden

A brand new cafe has opened just north of Boston, and it resides inside a brewery.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Cafe Reynard is now open in Malden, moving into the Idle Hands Craft Ales space on Commercial Street. The article mentions that the new spot is, as co-owner, founder, and roaster Eddy Martinez calls it, a "trans-run, worker-owned queer cafe and coffee roaster" that in addition to coffee, also offers doughnuts at least twice a week on most weeks from Kate Holowchik of Lionheart Confections. The cafe currently operates within the brewery Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM and on Sundays from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

The address for Cafe Reynard (and Idle Hands) is 89 Commercial Street, Malden, MA, 02148. The website for Cafe Reynard is at https://www.cafe-reynard.com/ while the website for Idle Hands is at https://www.idlehandscraftales.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 Panini Press Opens in the Former Take Away Space in Norwood

A new option for sandwiches has debuted southwest of Boston, taking over the space where a neighborhood restaurant known in part for its seafood had once been.

According to a source, The Panini Press is now open in Norwood, moving into the space on Chapel Street where The Take Away was until closing in the fall of 2022. The new eatery offers a variety of panini including turkey, ham, roast beef, tuna, pastrami, chicken salad, veggie, BLT, and grilled cheese, along with an Italian with mortadella, salami, capicola, provolone, hots, oil, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion.

The address for The Panini Press is 82 Chapel Street, Norwood, MA, 02062. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574142638480

(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.)

Cava Plans to Open in the Former La Paloma Space in Quincy

Earlier this week, it was reported that a Washington, D.C.-based group of fast-casual Mediterranean spots was looking to expand to a space south of Boston, and now we have learned that another outlet is in the works as well south of the city.

According to multiple sources along with an article in the Patriot Ledger, Cava is planning to open in Quincy, moving into the old La Paloma space on Newport Avenue between Wollaston and North Quincy. Once it opens, the new dining spot will join others in Boston, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Dedham, Framingham, Hanover, Hingham, and Mansfield.

Another location of Cava may be coming to the site on Union Street in Braintree that had once been home to Motel 6, but those plans are in their very early stages.

The address for the upcoming location of Cava in Quincy is 195 Newport Avenue, Quincy, MA, 02170. The website for all locations is at https://cava.com/

[Earlier Article]
Cava May Be Opening in Braintree

(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.)