Boston Restaurant Talk

Monday, March 23, 2026

Kao Jiu in Brookline Is Closing

An upscale Chinese restaurant in Brookline is going to be closing.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Kao Jiu on Harvard Street is shutting down, with a post within its Instagram page saying the following:

After many wonderful years, Kao Jiu will be closing this summer as our owners have decided to move back to China. We are incredibly grateful for all the love and support from our amazing community. Every visit, every meal, and every memory shared here has meant so much to us. Before we say goodbye, we hope to welcome you a few more times to enjoy your favorite dishes and celebrate the moments we've created together. Thank you for being part of the Kao Jiu family.

Kao Jiu first opened in 2022, taking over the space that had previously been home to Cafe Eilat.

The address for Kao Jiu is 406 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. Its website can be found at https://www.kaojiurestaurant.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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Restaurant News for the Week Ending March 22, 2026

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between March 16, 2026, and March 22, 2026.

All'Antico Vinaio May Be Opening in Boston's Downtown Crossing
An award-winning group of sandwich shops with roots in Italy that opened its first location in Boston last fall could be opening another location within the city.
Full Story

New Restaurant from A Street Hospitality to Open in the Former Bristol Lounge Space Within the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston
A new dining spot is on its way to an iconic space, and a local restaurant group is behind it.
Full Story

Common Craft Opens in South Boston
A second location of a dining/drinking complex has debuted after being in the works for more than a year.
Full Story

Nine Winters Bakery in Cambridge Is Closing
A Korean-American bakery is shutting down after being in the space for less than a year.
Full Story

Stack and Schmear Opens at High Street Place in Downtown Boston
A brand new sandwich spot has debuted at a food hall in the heart of the city.
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.)

Friday, March 20, 2026

All'Antico Vinaio May Be Opening in Boston's Downtown Crossing

An award-winning group of sandwich shops with roots in Italy that opened its first location in Boston last fall could be opening another location within the city.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, All'Antico Vinaio is looking to open in Downtown Crossing, moving into a space on Washington Street near where it meets Milk Street. The notice mentions that the proposed restaurant would have a dining area with seating for 20 people and an ordering counter, and it hopes to acquire a beer and wine license as well. If approved, the new location of All'Antico Vinaio would join another on Boylston Street in the Copley Square along with a handful of other U.S. locations.

All'Antico Vinaio, which started out in Florence in 1991, is known for their variety of panini; in 2017, Saveur included All'Antico Vinaio in an article on "The World's Best Sandwiches."

The address for the proposed location of All'Antico Vinaio in Downtown Crossing is 330 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02109. The website for All'Antico Vinaio can be found at https://www.allanticovinaiousa.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.)

Nirvana Tea House & Cafe in Millis Is Reopening

A vegan eatery in the southwest suburbs of Boston that shut down last fall is returning under new ownership.

According to a Bluesky Post, Nirvana Tea House & Cafe in Millis is opening back up, with Unity Farm Sanctuary purchasing the Main Street spot and planning a grand opening on March 26. A Facebook post from the place says the following:

Welcome to Nirvana! Under new ownership and management, Unity Farm Sanctuary purchased the Cafe in December 2025 and began the renovation work January 1, 2026! General Manager Keith Maher is back to run the cafe with hand picked team members and Head Baker Shannon. You will see some familiar faces too in the "front of the house" serving your tea, coffee, smoothies, salads, wraps, soups, bowls, and baked goods....Table service and take-away, plus Doordash has you covered! Our vision of food is that we simply want to offer you good, compassionate, tasty food.

Nirvana Tea House & Cafe first opened its doors in 2020.

The address for Nirvana Tea House & Cafe is 969 Main Street Unit 2, Millis, MA, 02054. Its website can be found at https://www.nirvanateahousecafe.com/

[Earlier Article]
Nirvana Tea House & Cafe in Millis 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.)

KoKo Coffee Opens New Location Next to South Station in Boston

A small local group of coffee shops has been joined by a new location that should be popular with commuters.

According to its social media along with an earlier press release, KoKo Coffee is now open on Atlantic Avenue next to South Station, with the new spot joining another by the Boston waterfront on State Street along with others on Causeway Street by North Station and L Street in South Boston. The new shop offers such options as coffee, pastries, baked goods, salads, and sandwiches.

The address for the new location of KoKo Coffee is 745 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111. The Instagram page for all locations is at https://www.instagram.com/kokocoffeeusa/

(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 19, 2026

New Restaurant from A Street Hospitality to Open in the Former Bristol Lounge Space Within the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston

A new dining spot is on its way to an iconic Boston space, and a local restaurant group is behind it.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, A Street Hospitality (Porto, La Padrona, Trade, Saloniki, the Venetian) is planning to open a restaurant in the old Bristol Lounge space in the Four Seasons Hotel on Boylston Street in the Back Bay, with Jody Adams, Eric Papachristos, and Jon Mendez planning to bring such classic options as Dover sole, prime rib, lobster bisque, local oysters, caviar and blini, and beef tartare to the as-of-yet unnamed spot. It is not yet known when the place might open (plans are in their early stages), but when it does, it will have dinner service daily along with a weekend brunch.

The Bristol Lounge, which closed during the pandemic, was known in part for its Bristol burger, which was considered one of Boston's best.

The website for A Street Hospitality can be found at https://www.astreethospitality.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.)