Boston Restaurant Talk

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]

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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.)

Restaurant News for the Week Ending September 13, 2026

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between September 7, 2026, and September 13, 2026.

Anna's Taqueria at Northeastern University in Boston Has Closed
It looks like a location of a local group of Mexican spots that has been expanding of late has shut down.
Full Story

Paul Revere Restaurant in West Medford Is Reopening
A breakfast and lunch spot north of Boston that has been around for many years is being reborn under new ownership.
Full Story

Village Pancake House in Rowley Has Closed
A longtime breakfast and lunch spot on the North Shore has shut down.
Full Story

Hawksmoor Opens in Fort Point
A small chain of steakhouses and cocktail bars with roots overseas has expanded to Boston.
Full Story

Mia Regazza in Abington and Marshfield, Stockholders in Weymouth Are All Changing Ownership
Three South Shore restaurants are going to be coming under new ownership, and it isn't known exactly what changes (if any) might be coming to any of them.
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, September 11, 2026

Bethencourt Bakehouse to Open Brick-and-Mortar Shop in Acton

A local bakery business whose breads are found online and at popups and markets will soon have a shop of its own.

According to a message sent from Leah Klein of City Living Boston, Bethencourt Bakehouse is planning to open a brick-and-mortar store in Acton, moving into a space on Routes 2A/119 (Great Road) within a strip mall about midway between the Concord rotary and the Route 27 intersection. A Facebook post from owner Gonzalo Bethencourt mentions the following:

It turns out wild yeast isn't the only thing that expands when you give it time and care. A little over a year ago, Bethencourt Bakehouse started as an idea, a starter jar, and a passion for slow-fermented, European-style bread. Today, I'm holding the keys to our very own brick-and-mortar home at 166 Great Road in Acton, Massachusetts. To say thank you feels like an understatement. The incredible warmth from our local community, the loyal lines at pop-ups, markets and drops, and the generous support of our friends at Eve & Murray’s helped turn a humble bake setup into a permanent storefront. The core remains unchanged: organic flours, freshly milled grains, long fermentations, and uncompromising quality—just with a lot more counter space, a proper hearth, and room to introduce brand-new creations. Buildout begins now. Follow along as we turn an empty space into a living bakehouse. Acton, we can't wait to welcome you home.

Gonzalo Bethencourt grew up in Madrid, moving to Los Angeles in 2011 then Amsterdam in 2013 before settling in Boston in 2016.

The website for Bethencourt Bakehouse is at https://bethencourtbakehouse.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.)

Namu Distilling Company Opens in Boston's Mission Hill Neighborhood

Last spring, it was reported that a distillery featuring two types of spirits was planning to come to Boston, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Namu Distilling Company opens today in the Mission Hill section of the city, moving into a space on Heath Street by the Jamaica Plain line. As mentioned earlier, the new business is a Korean-American small-batch distillery that focuses on soju and gin, with its website saying that "We are New England’s first and only Korean-American craft distillery, specializing in spirits distilled from rice wine."

The address for Namu Distilling Company is 89 Heath Street, Boston, MA, 02130. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/namu_distilling/

(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, September 10, 2026

Anna's Taqueria at Northeastern University in Boston Has Closed

It looks like a location of a local group of Mexican spots that has been expanding of late has shut down.

According to multiple sources, including a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Anna's Taqueria at Northeastern University in Boston is no longer in operation, with a check on the website for the business indicating that the location in the public food court inside the Marino Recreation Center has indeed been removed from the site. The dining spot first opened last year in the space where b.good had formerly been; other locations that debuted over the past couple of years in downtown Boston, South Boston, Dedham, Natick, and Woburn do remain open for business. (A number of other outlets of Anna's can be found in the Greater Boston area as well.)

The website for Anna's Taqueria is at https://annas.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.)