Boston Restaurant Talk

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Friendly's in Pembroke Has Closed

A regional chain of restaurants and ice cream shops continues to shrink, as a location south of Boston has shut down.

According to a source, Friendly's in Pembroke is no longer in business, with the website for the chain confirming this, removing it from their locations page. With the closing of the Church Street outlet, this means that only seven now remain inside/along Route 495, including in Haverhill, Marlborough, Middleborough, Norwood, Peabody, Plymouth, and Weymouth.

Friendly's, which is headquartered in Wilbraham, was first established in Springfield in 1935.

The address for the now-closed location of Friendly's in Pembroke was 146 Church Street, Pembroke, MA, 02359. The website for the chain is at https://friendlysrestaurants.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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Daniella's on Cabot to Open in the Former Ellis Square Social Space in Beverly

The group behind several dining and drinking spots on the North Shore will be opening another restaurant north of Boston.

According to a Facebook post from North Shore Eats, Daniella's on Cabot is going to be opening in Beverly, taking over the space on Cabot Street where Ellis Square Social had been. Once it opens, the new place will join Daniella's Ristorante in Peabody, Daniella's Cafe in Peabody, and Pellana Prime Steakhouse in Peabody, all of which are part of the North Shore Hospitality Group. Very little information has been given as of yet on the new spot, though based on the offerings at Daniella's Ristorante and Daniella's Cafe, it could be focusing at least in part on Italian food.

Ellis Square Social closed this summer after being in business since 2018.

The address for Daniella's on Cabot is 252 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA, 01915. The website for the North Shore Hospitality Group can be found at https://northshorehospitality.com/

[Earlier Article]
Ellis Square Social in Beverly Has Closed

(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.)

Pressed Cafe Plans to Open in Beverly

It looks like a local group of dining spots that focus on healthy, freshly-made options may be expanding to the North Shore.

According to an article from What Now Boston, Pressed Cafe is planning to open in Beverly, with leasing documents indicating that it would move into the former Acapulcos Mexican Family Restaurant & Cantina space at Cummings Center in 2026. If all goes as planned and it does open there, the new location of Pressed would join others in Boston's Back Bay and Seaport District, Burlington, Chelmsford, Lawrence, and Newton, along with four in New Hampshire (Bedford, North Nashua, Salem, and South Nashua), and based on those restaurants, expect to see breakfast dishes, soups, panini, bowls, fresh-pressed juices, coffee, and more.

The address for the proposed location of Pressed Cafe in Beverly is 900 Cummings Center Beverly, MA, 01915. The website for all locations is at https://www.pressedcafe.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.)

Monday, October 20, 2025

LeDu Thai Eatery in Newtonville Has Closed

A Thai restaurant that was located a few miles west of Boston has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, LeDu Thai Eatery in Newtonville is no longer in business, with an All Over Newton Facebook post showing a photo of a sign out front saying that "We will always cherish our wonderful memories here in Newton and we will miss this great community." The note also mentions that a new dining spot is apparently moving into the space, though no other details have been given.

The website for LeDu Thai Eatery was 313 Walnut Street, Newton, MA, 02460.

(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.)

WCP Slice House Opens in Lowell

A new option for pizza has opened north of Boston, and it offers several different styles including one typically found south of the city.

According to its social media pages, WCP Slice House is now open in Lowell, moving into a space on Central Street in the downtown section of the city. A menu for the new restaurant shows that it offers South Shore-style bar pizza along with thin crust, Sicilian, New Haven style, and gluten-free pizza, while also serving salads, appetizers, and desserts.

South Shore-style bar pizza can be very difficult to find north of Boston, with some of the only places offering it including Epigram Brew Co. in Tyngsboro, For Pizza in Medford, Hot Box in Somerville, Riverview in Ipswich, and Monte's in Lynn.

The address for WCP Slice House is 30 Central Street, Lowell, MA, 01852. Its Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580350555601 while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/slice.house.lowell/

(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.)

Restaurant News for the Week Ending October 19, 2025

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between October 13, 2025, and October 19, 2025.

Brassica Kitchen Is Now Open in Its New Home in the Former Dogwood Cafe Space in Jamaica Plain
A small JP eatery that had been a cafe by day and a restaurant by night is now open in a larger space next door.
Full Story

Cafe Sushi in Cambridge Is Reopening Its Dining Room, Becoming Cafe Sushi Nisei
An award-winning sushi spot between Harvard Square and Central Square that has been takeout/delivery only for the past few years is bringing back its dining area--and getting a slight name change in the process.
Full Story

Burro Bar in Boston's South End May Become Another Location of Posto
A Mexican restaurant and tequila bar in the South End could be getting a rebrand, and the change would be a familiar name from a restaurant group that runs both.
Full Story

Brick Street Bagels Opens in South Boston
A popup bagel business that has been based out of Boston's South End has moved into a permanent space not all that far away.
Full Story

Peel Pizza Co. in Hingham Is Now Hook Pizza Co.; Other Locations May Be Changing Over As Well
A location of a local group of pizza spots has been rebranded, and it looks like this may be the start of a general rebranding.
Full Story

[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.)