Boston Restaurant Talk

Monday, November 02, 2026

Restaurant News for the Week Ending November 1, 2026

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between October 26, 2026, and November 1, 2026.

Cambridge Common, Lizard Lounge to Close in 2027
After weeks of chatter, it has now been confirmed that a beloved restaurant, bar, and music club in Cambridge will be closing.
Full Story

Cafe Barada in North Cambridge Is Closing
A decades-old Middle Eastern restaurant is going to be closing its doors.
Full Story

Komorebi to Open a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant in Brookline/Strip by Strega Space in the Park Plaza Area
The people behind a local ghost kitchen known for its premium sushi and bento boxes will be opening a permanent storefront.
Full Story

Old Friend Pizza Opens in West Roxbury
A Detroit-style pizza business known for its pop-ups and residency at an historic space has opened a brick-and-mortar spot.
Full Story

Uchi to Open in Fort Point
A group of high-end Japanese restaurants with roots in Texas--and whose chef/founder is a James Beard award winner--will be expanding to Boston.
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.)

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Cambridge Common, Lizard Lounge in Cambridge to Close in 2027

After weeks of chatter, it has now been confirmed that a beloved restaurant, bar, and music club in Cambridge will be closing.

According to an article from WBUR, Cambridge Common and the Lizard Lounge are going to be shutting down in May of 2027, with co-owner Holly Heslop saying, "It's been a long run, and we know it's time....Although I don't think either of us is particularly emotionally ready for it. The article mentions that co-owners Heslop and Charlie Christopher have been talking with a buyer for the Massachusetts Avenue property, though it is not known at this point in time what might become of the space.

Cambridge Common first opened in 1996, with the Lizard Lounge debuting a year later; the former has been known in part for its classic American fare including its boneless buffalo tenders and tater tots (along with an extensive beer list) while the latter has been a major part of the local music scene, having countless local acts perform there over the years.

The address for Cambridge Common and Lizard Lounge is 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for the former is at https://cambridgecommonrestaurant.com/ while the website for the latter is at https://lizardloungeclub.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.)

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Cafe Barada in North Cambridge Is Closing

A decades-old Middle Eastern restaurant is going to be closing its doors.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Cafe Barada in North Cambridge is shutting down a bit over a month from now, with the post saying the following:

Hello friends, It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Cafe Barada will be closing its full-service dining at 2269 Mass Ave on Saturday, December 5th....Although this chapter is coming to a close, we hope it is not a final goodbye. We look forward to continuing to share our food with you through future endeavors. As we prepare for this transition, we want to express our deepest gratitude. Thank you for your loyalty, your kindness, your laughter, and for welcoming us into your lives throughout the years.

Cafe Barada first opened in Arlington in 1985, moving to North Cambridge in 2002; the restaurant has been known for its Lebanese fare, including such items as hoummos, baba ghannouj, tabbouleh, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, kibby, and shish kebab.

The address for Cafe Barada is 2269 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140. Its website can be found at https://www.cafebarada.net/

(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.)

Komorebi to Open a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant in Brookline

The people behind a local ghost kitchen known for its premium sushi and bento boxes will be opening a permanent storefront.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Komorebi is planning to open a brick-and-mortar location in Brookline, apparently moving into a space on Beacon Street in the Coolidge Corner area. The business first started out a couple of years ago, focusing on online ordering for pickup/delivery and working out of a space in Revere. Based on various job listings for the upcoming restaurant, the space will include a counter and a dining area, and expect omakase-style bentos using seasonal ingredients. (The job notices for the Brookline location of Komorebi indicate that it could be opening in mid-November.)

The website for Komorebi can be found at https://www.komorebiii.com/ while its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/komorebi.bos/

(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.)

Mattie's Provisions & Spirits to Open in Brighton in November

A brand new gourmet shop is getting ready to open in a Boston neighborhood.

According to a listing within the jobs section of the bostonchefs.com website, Mattie's Provisions & Spirits is planning to open in Brighton in November, moving into a space on Commonwealth Avenue by Boston College. The listing mentions that the place will be "a new gourmet market – offering wine, spirits, craft beer, gourmet snacks and a morning coffee/pastry service" while an earlier Universal Hub article quoted Boston Licensing Board chair Kathleen Joyce as saying "It seems like an upscale gourmet cheese store."

The address for the upcoming Mattie's Provisions & Spirits is 2193 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton, MA, 02135. Its website will be at https://mattiesprovisions.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.)

Antojitos Gourmet Opens in Malden

A new restaurant featuring Latin American fare has opened a few miles north of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Antojitos Gourmet is now open in Malden, moving into a space on Route 99 just north of where it intersects Route 60. The new dining spot features Colombian and other Latin American dishes, including such options as ceviche, tamales, empanadas, arepas, lechona, buñuelos, and more, and it offers catering as well (the people behind Antojitos Gourmet first started out as caterers several years ago).

The address for Antojitos Gourmet is 251 Broadway (Route 99), Malden, MA, 02148. Its website can be found at https://antojitosgourmet.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.)