Boston Restaurant Talk

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Home Taste in Watertown Is Closed, Is Apparently Being Rebranded

A Chinese restaurant west of Boston that is known in part for its noodles and dumplings is locked up and dark, and it appears that it could be in the midst of a rebranding.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Home Taste in Watertown is currently closed, with a photo showing signs out front saying that Badam Uyghur Cuisine is apparently moving into the space. This could be a reconcepting from the people behind Home Taste, as a Facebook post from them earlier this month said the following:

We will be taking a short break for vacation and will be temporarily closed for approximately one month. Thank you so much for your continued support and understanding! We look forward to welcoming everyone back when we reopen.

Home Taste first opened in 2015, offering such options as hand-pulled noodles, handmade dumplings, Chinese "burgers," Szechuan dishes, and more. [Ed note: Another Home Taste can be found in Arlington Heights.]

The address for Home Taste in Watertown (and presumably, Badam Uyghur Cuisine) is 58 Mt Auburn Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.

(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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Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Armsby Abbey in Worcester Is for Sale

A gastropub in Central Massachusetts that is considered by many to be one of the best beer bars in New England is on the market.

According to an article from the Worcester Guardian, Armsby Abbey is Worcester is for sale, as owners Sherri Sadowski and Alec Lopez say that "After 18 years of ownership we are considering taking a step back to focus on the things that are most important to us; our son, family, and friends....We have lost a few very important people in our lives in recent years which has truly brought to our attention how precious life is and how fast time is going by." The article mentions that the offering includes the business, equipment, and other assets, but it does not include the real estate, and the owners want to find a buyer who will keep the dining and drinking spot going with its current staff--and that it is business as usual for the time being.

Armsby Abbey is known for its hard-to-find beers while also being the first place in Massachusetts to offer Hill Farmstead beers on a regular basis (Hill Farmstead is an award-winning brewery in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont).

The address for Armsby Abbey is 144 Main Street, Worcester, MA, 01608. Its website can be found at https://armsbyabbey.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.)

Ciao! Pizza and Pasta to Open in Lynn

An award-winning wood-fired pizzeria in Chelsea is expanding to a few miles to the north. According to an article from boston.com, Ciao! Pizza and Pasta is planning to open in Lynn, moving into the space on Sutton Street that had been home to Ciao Restaurant & Bar (which didn't appear to have any ownership connection to Ciao! Pizza and Pasta). The new location will be larger than the Chelsea restaurant, with seating for 70 and a full bar, though its menu will have the same options as Chelsea along with some extra dishes. It appears that Ciao! Pizza and Pasta could be opening in Lynn sometime this month if all goes as planned.

The Chelsea location of Ciao! Pizza and Pasta, which first opened on Williams Street in 2015, has gotten recognition from Boston Magazine, The Boston Globe, and the Food Network since debuting.

The address for the new location Ciao! Pizza and Pasta in Lynn is 41 Sutton Street, Lynn, MA, 01904. The website for the Chelsea location is at https://www.ciaopizzaandpasta.com/ [Ed note: There is also a location of Ciao! Pizza and Pasta in Somerville as well.]

(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.)

The Foodsmith in Duxbury Is Closing

A bakery-cafe on the South Shore that has a couple of well-known media people behind it is shutting down.

According to a Facebook post from the business, The Foodsmith in Duxbury is getting ready to close its doors, with the post from owner Laura Raposa saying the following:

Steven and I have had a wonderful experience running the Foodsmith for the past 11 years, but we've decided it's time to retire....A 70-hour work week has taken a toll on my back...as well as my aching feet. I'll need both in working order to enjoy life in the years ahead. Our plan is to serve our last breakfast sandwich and cold brew on Wednesday, Sept. 30. So, if you have a gift card -- and there are many floating around town -- please come in and use it. We'll be happy to refund remaining card balances upon request through our closing date.

Laura and her husband Steven Syre had previously been involved in the Boston media, with Laura writing for The Inside Track in The Boston Herald while Steven was a business columnist for The Boston Globe.

The address for The Foodsmith is 17 Standish Street, Duxbury, MA, 02332. Its website can be found at https://www.thefoodsmithduxbury.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, September 14, 2026

Tran An to Open in Salem

The person behind an award-winning Miami restaurant is bringing a new location to the Greater Boston area.

According to a post within the jobs section of the bostonchefs.com website, Tran An is planning to open in Salem, saying in the listing that "Chef Jon Nguyen, a rising star from our flagship Miami location, will be working side by side with the Salem team from day one....Come grow with us as we bring Tran An's Miami energy to the North Shore." The Miami location of Tran An was awarded Best Vietnamese Restaurant last year in the Miami New Times, with the article saying that the dining spot "draws you in with its stunning interior, with orange lighting and midcentury-but-also-'70s spaceship decor" while also stating that "It's affordable, so you can order a lot of food, including a pho burger, vegan pho, the 'secret menu' buffalo KFC bánh mì, a colorful Fruity Pebbles-based dessert, and even poke bowls."

The restaurant's website mentions that Jon Nguyen received culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and worked under former Momofuku chef Tien Ho while also working at The Modern, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Manhattan.

It appears that Tran An may be coming to 206 Derby Street, though this has not been confirmed as of yet. (The website for Tran An can be found at https://www.trananmiami.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.)

News Elsewhere: Arnold's Lobster & Clam Bar in Eastham Is Up for Sale

An iconic seafood spot on the Cape is shuttered and on the market.

According to a Facebook post from the business, Arnold's Lobster & Clam Bar in Eastham--which closed for the season over the weekend--is up for sale, with the post from owner Nick Nickerson saying the following:

After 50 wonderful and successful years, the time has come for me to sell Arnolds Lobster and Clam Bar....Although this is the end of an extraordinary chapter for me, the memories and friendships I have made will remain in my heart forever.

Arnold's has been known over the years for its clam chowder and lobster bisque, warm and cold lobster rolls, Wellfleet oysters, fried seafood baskets, and more.

The address for Arnold's Lobster & Clam Bar is 3580 US-6, Eastham, MA, 02642.

(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.)