Boston Restaurant Talk

Friday, April 17, 2026

A South East Kitchen Opens in Framingham

A brand new Asian restaurant has debuted west of Boston.

According to Kiat Cormier who posted on the ChewOnThis Facebook group page, A South East Kitchen has debuted in Framingham and is currently going through a soft opening. An opening menu for the dining spot shows a focus on Thai fare, including such items as spring rolls, chicken satay, golden shrimp, massaman curry, basil fried rice, drunken noodle, pad see ew, pad thai, green curry noodle, and gai ka pow, along with Thai iced tea and Thai iced coffee.

The address for A South East Kitchen is 855 Worcester Road (Route 9) Suite 1C, Framingham, MA. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584544907322

(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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Kri Kri Grill to Open in Chelmsford

A veteran chef who has been involved with a number of restaurants in the Greater Boston area and beyond will be opening his very own dining spot north of the city.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Brendan Pelley will be opening Kri Kri Grill in Chelmsford, moving into the space within a shopping center on Boston Road that had previously been home to Pita. The upcoming eatery will focus on Greek fare, with the menu including such options as sourdough pita bread, hand-carved meats, spanakopita, moussaka, pastitsio, grilled dolmas, house-made ice cream, and more.

Brendan Pelley has been involved with such well-known restaurants as Krasi, Greco, Bar Vlaha, Kaia, Gibbet Hill Grill, and Doretta Taverna.

The address for the upcoming Kri Kri Grill is 18 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA, 01824. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/krikrigrill/

(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.)

Avra Estiatorio Opens at Lyrik Back Bay in Boston

An upscale Greek and Mediterranean restaurant that got its start in New York City and now has a handful of locations around the country has come to a new development in Boston.

According to multiple sources, Avra Estiatorio is now open at Lyrik Back Bay, a mixed-use space above the Mass. Pike where Newbury Street and Massachusetts Avenue meet. The new dining spot focuses in part on Greek seafood dishes, with a few options including fish soup, littleneck clams, calamari, salmon tartare, grilled octopus, sardines, sea bass souvlaki, lobster pasta, and pan-seared scallops, while also offering a variety of cocktails.

The first location of Avra Estiatorio debuted in Midtown East back in 2000.

The address for Avra Estiatorio in the Back Bay is 400 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02115. Its web page is at https://theavragroup.com/avra-boston

(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, April 16, 2026

Happii Bellii to Open in the Former Brockton Beer Company Space

A pop-up dining spot known for its Vietnamese fare is opening a brick-and-mortar location which will apparently have a different concept, and it will be moving into the space where a beermaker had been.

According to an article in The Enterprise, Happii Bellii is planning to open in Brockton, taking over the old Brockton Beer Company space on Main Street in the city's downtown area. The article mentions that the upcoming eatery--which was located within Devito's Pizzeria in Taunton in 2024--may not be focusing on Vietnamese cuisine, with a spokesperson for the place saying that it will be "eclectic" and "its own concept" while also saying that "It's not an Asian theme at all."

The address for the upcoming Happii Bellii is 121 Main Street, Brockton, MA, 02301.

(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.)

Jose's Torta Mexicana in Arlington to Become Full-Service Restaurant and Bar

A Mexican spot in the northwest suburbs of Boston whose focus was initially on takeout will soon be focusing on sit-down service complete with alcoholic beverages and outdoor dining.

According to a message sent to us from Leah Klein of City Living Boston, changes are coming to Jose's Torta Mexicana in Arlington, with a Facebook post from the Mass. Ave. eatery saying the following:

We've come a long way… Since opening in 2018 as a takeout spot, Jose's Torta Mexicana has been growing with one goal in mind: bringing you the full experience. And now… it's finally here ... Introducing our FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT & BAR. Front Patio officially opens May 1st. Join us and enjoy: Authentic Mexican food Handcrafted Margaritas Mexican beers & cocktails Outdoor dining with friends & family

The address for Jose's Torta Mexicana is 793 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476. Its website can be found at https://josestorta.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.)

Kero + Homemade Bites Brazilian Cafe Plans to Open in Somerville

It looks like a new cafe is on its way to Somerville.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Kero + Homemade Bites Brazilian Cafe is planning to open on Medford Street, moving into a space on the southern edge of the city's Winter Hill area. An article from What Now Boston mentions that the upcoming eatery will offer such options as pães de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), coxinhas (teardrop-shaped chicken croquettes), sandwiches, and Brazilian coffee, though the article also incorrectly mentions that it is going into the Bocelli's space in South Medford (Bocelli's remains open on Main Street in that neighborhood).

The address for the upcoming Kero + Homemade Bites Brazilian Cafe is 374A Medford Street, Somerville, MA, 02145.

(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.)