The Future of the Village Restaurant in Essex Is in Question

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a decades-old seafood spot on the North Shore could be closing at some point, though nothing has been decided as of yet.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, a vote taken this month on a proposal to replace the Village Restaurant in Essex with a new fire station did not reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass, but a temporary tax increase to raise funds for the town to build a new station did pass, which now could leave this in the hands of the Board of Selectmen. An earlier post in The Salem News had mentioned that the owners of the dining spot will continue to run the place until the plan to have it replaced by a fire station is officially approved.

The Village Restaurant, which first opened in 1956, is known in part for its family-friendly atmosphere and its extensive menu which includes such items as fried clams, oyster stew, calamari, baked haddock, shrimp scampi, grilled salmon, a twin lobster dinner, and lobster rolls.

The address for the Village Restaurant is 55 Main Street, Essex, MA, 01929. Its website can be found at https://wedigclams.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Seafood Dishes from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]

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Central Bistro in Boston's Downtown Crossing Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

A French restaurant in the heart of Boston is closing down, and it appears that it will not be replaced by another dining spot.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Central Bistro in Downtown Crossing is shutting its doors for good after lunch service on Friday, May 18, with a note on the restaurant's website indicating that as its lease comes to an end, it will be transformed into upscale office space. The Arch Street dining spot first opened in 2010 as Petit Robert Central, with the name change coming five years later when it changed ownership.

The group behind Central Bistro is also involved with such places as Abby Lane, Citrus & Salt, Lion's Tail, and Lower Mills Tavern, with workers at Central Bistro being moved to those restaurants.

The address for this soon-to-close French eatery in Downtown Crossing is: Central Bistro, 101 Arch Street, Boston, MA, 02110. Its website can be found at https://www.centralbistroboston.com/

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[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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Chilli Duck in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a popular Back Bay spot for Thai food has closed down.

According to a source, Chilli Duck on Boylston Street is no longer in business, with a sign out front saying that due to business conditions, the eatery is closed for good. Another source who checked the space out this morning confirmed this, saying that it has indeed shut down permanently, with the sign mentioning that the closure is "due to our inability to generate sufficient business profits to sign a new lease with tremendously high rent per month."

Chilli Duck, which first opened approximately 15 years ago, offered a variety of Thai dishes, including tom yum soup, pad Thai, mango curry, spicy tofu, crispy chicken, seafood hot pot, chili duck, and steamed lemon fish.

The address for this now-closed Thai restaurant in the Back Bay was: Chilli Duck, 829 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

Thanks to both sources for helping with some of the information given here.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Gong Cha to Open in Former Hot Spot Space in Allston

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a Taiwan-based group of bubble tea shops will be opening its second Boston location, with this one taking over a space in Allston where a Cantonese eatery had been.

According to a source (Chris Tam), Gong Cha is opening in the space on Harvard Avenue where The Hot Spot was for only a few months, with a "coming soon" sign shown out front. A check on the website for Gong Cha confirms this, showing that it plans to open sometime this spring, joining another location on Harrison Avenue in Chinatown along with other outlets in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Texas. Once it opens, expect a variety of bubble tea options including ones with coffee, yogurt, brewed tea, milk tea, and more.

The Hot Spot first opened last summer but shut down around the end of the year, and at the time, it appeared that it was a temporary closure but the place never reopened.

The address for the upcoming location of Gong Cha in Allston is 154 Harvard Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134. The website for all locations can be found at http://www.gongchausa.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Harry O's in Boston's South End Is Apparently Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a longtime pizzeria and sub shop in the South End of Boston is closing down, as its building appears to be slated for redevelopment.

According to a note sent by Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting, it looks like Harry O's on Washington Street will be closing sometime around the end of the month, with the word being that the space in which both the shop and the adjacent Morse Fish Company reside could be seeing some kinds of changes or updates. A poster within the restaurant industry (Kenny Jervis) states on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page that Harry O's has a closing date of May 27, but we are still trying to confirm this.

Harry O's first opened for than 30 years ago, serving such items as pizza, calzones, pasta dishes, subs, grill items, and salads.

The address for this soon-to-close pizzeria and sub shop in the South End is: Harry O's, 1405 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02118. Its website can be found at http://www.harryospizza.com/

[Earlier Article]
Morse Fish Company in Boston's South End Is Up for Lease

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[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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Strip-T's in Watertown Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

A cult favorite that has been seen as one of the Boston area's true destination spots over the past decade or so is closing its doors.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Strip-T's in Watertown is shutting down after more than 30 years in business, with owner Paul Maslow saying of the School Street restaurant, "Business is just not consistent....It's kind of impossible to know why. Everybody has theories." The post mentions that the space is now on the market and that Maslow had let his staff know after he made the decision to shutter, with some already leaving while others apparently staying until the final day. (It does not appear that there is an official closing date as of yet, as it likely depends on when it is sold.)

Strip-T's first opened in 1986 and was a little-known neighborhood cafe at first, but in 2011, Maslow's son Tim came on board and helped transform the place into one of the best-known restaurants in the entire Boston area.

The address for Strip-T's is 93 School Street, Watertown, MA, 02472. Its website can be found at http://stripts.com/

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[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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