Boston Restaurant Talk

Friday, May 20, 2022

The Mushroom Shop Opens in Somerville

A brand new store that features all things fungus has come to the local area.

According to an article on the WBUR website, The Mushroom Shop is now open in Somerville, taking over a space on Medford Street in the Winter Hill area of the city. The post mentions that the new store offers such mushrooms as morel, reishi, porcini, oyster, matsutake, black trumpet, chanterelle, and hen of the woods/maitake, along with vegetables, soy sauce, vinegar, spices, and more.

Hours for The Mushroom Shop are currently 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Wednesday through Friday.

The address for The Mushroom Shop is 433 Medford Street, Somerville, MA, 02145. Its website can be found at https://www.mushroomsformyfriends.com/themushroomshop

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Please Support Our Fundraiser

Stepping away from restaurant news for a bit, some of you know that I'm helping raise funds via GoFundMe for a family member who is dealing with a health issue and is currently in a respite room at an assisted living facility as we try to figure out how--and if--he can improve enough to be able to come home again. For at least the time being, he remains in the respite room, and along with the stress of the situation in general, we also have to worry about the weight of the heavy financial burden affecting us. More information can be found at the link below, and please leave a message of support as well.

Thank you very much! -Marc

Fundraiser: Help for Leslie H's Ongoing Health Issue

Ice Cream Shops Scramble as Richardson's Temporarily Stops Ice Cream Production

One of the best-known ice cream brands in the local area has dropped some worrisome news just as the temperatures start to skyrocket, and it is causing problems for shops across the region that depend on their products.

According to a source, Richardson's Ice Cream has stopped production for the time being, with The Inside Scoop in Bedford, NH, saying that "I received a call from them to place our weekly order and was told they had to stop all ice cream production until end of May/beginning of June because they can't get their ingredients to make it!" while Leavitt's Ice Cream in Atkinson, NH, mentions that "We received information this week from Richardson's that they are not able to make any more ice cream due to a shortage of a necessary ingredient for their custom recipe." Our source tells us that at least one regional shop (which will remain unnamed) is looking to get their ice cream from another source for now, while The Inside Scoop says "we are fully stocked but just wanted to give you a heads up your favorites might be MIA for a week or two" and Leavitt's states that "Once our supply of Richardson's Ice Cream runs out, we will be selling another premium ice cream until Richardson’s is back up and running!"

As our source tells us, this only affects shops that carry Richardson's Ice Cream, so call ahead if you're unsure where your favorite shop's ice cream comes from.

The website for the Middleton-based Richardson's can be found at http://www.richardsonsicecream.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Apex Bar and Lounge to Open in Boston's Financial District

It looks like a new cocktail bar and lounge is on its way to downtown Boston, and it will apparently be part of a multi-concept cannabis dispensary with a former mayoral candidate behind it.

According to a licensing board page within the city's website, Apex Bar and Lounge is planning to open in the Financial District, taking over at least part of the space on State Street that had been home to Little Rose Taco Bar, and before that, Kamakura. An earlier Dig Boston article mentioned that Tito Jackson is behind the place, which, according to a media statement, is called Apex Noire and will be "part cannabis dispensary and wholly an experience," including a dispensary space, an art/music gallery, and the cocktail bar itself, and based on the hearing notice, it appears that Apex Bar and Lounge plans to be on the 6th and 7th floor of the building, with the top floor being a roof deck.

Tito Jackson ran for mayor in 2017 and he has also been a city council member.

The address for the upcoming Apex Bar and Lounge is 150 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109. The website for Apex Noire will be at https://apexnoire.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

North End Creamery Plans to Open in Boston's North End

It looks like a new place for ice cream could be coming to the North End of Boston, and a familiar name would apparently be behind it.

According to a licensing board page within the city's website, North End Creamery is planning to open on Salem Street, with the notice showing that Sandra Russo is listed as the manager. This is the same Sandra Russo who ran the nearby (and now-closed) Lulu's Sweet Shoppe on Parmenter Street, and who was also behind the now-closed Lulu's Kitchen on Blackstone Street in the Haymarket Square area.

More information should be coming out on the proposed North End Creamery May 25, which is when the hearing is scheduled to take place.

The address for North End Creamery would be 121 Salem Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Yellow Door Taqueria Plans to Replace Flann O'Brien's in Boston's Brigham Circle/Mission Hill Neighborhood

A pair of Mexican restaurants could be joined by a third, with this one taking over the space where a popular Irish pub has been.

According to a licensing commission hearing page within the City of Boston website, Yellow Door Taqueria is planning to open in the city's Brigham Circle/Mission Hill Neighborhood, moving into the Flann O'Brien's space on Tremont Street. If approved, the new location of the Mexican spot would join others in the South End and Dorchester's Lower Mills.

The future of Flann O'Brien's had been in question for awhile now, as it appeared that the pub was being sold in late 2020 and early 2021. At that time, it looked like it could end up reopening under new ownership.

The address for the proposed Yellow Door Taqueria (and Flann O'Brien's) is 1619 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02120. The website for the other two locations of the Mexican restaurant can be found at https://www.yellowdoortaqueria.com/

[Earlier Article]
Flann O'Brien's in Boston's Brigham Circle/Mission Hill Neighborhood Is Apparently Being Sold

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]