Boston Restaurant Talk

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

2nd Street Cafe in East Cambridge Is Closed; Exact Status Unknown

A longtime favorite for breakfast and lunch in Cambridge is locked up and dark, and it isn't known whether the place will reopen.

According to a source, the 2nd Street Cafe in East Cambridge is shuttered, with photos sent to us hinting that the space appears to be cleaned out, while a check on its website indicates that the site is no longer running. A Reddit thread mentions that according to a sign out front, the eatery had been closed for vacation until July 18 but it still hasn't reopened; as soon as we find out more about the exact status of the restaurant, we will post an update here.

The address for the 2nd Street Cafe is 89 Second Street #1, Cambridge, MA, 02141.

(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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ShoYu Opens in Braintree

A local group of Asian restaurants has opened a fourth location, and this one is on the South Shore.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, ShoYu is now open in Braintree, moving into the former Pan Asia Cafe & Grill space on Quincy Avenue. The new location joins others in Boston, Saugus, and Andover, and it offers pan-Asian fare including sushi, stir-fry noodle dishes, rice bowls, Chinese-American dishes, and more.

As reported earlier, another new location of ShoYu is also on the way, moving into a space in the downtown section of Peabody.

The address for the new location of ShoYu in Braintree is 211 Quincy Avenue, Braintree, MA, 02184. The website for all locations is at https://www.shoyusushi.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, August 24, 2026

Is the Union Oyster House Going Through an Ownership Change?

It looks like one of Boston's best-known restaurants could be getting a new owner, though details are scant at this point in time.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, the parent company of the Union Oyster House (Union Oyster House, Inc.) has petitioned to transfer its license to UOH Manager, LLC, with the Union Oyster House name slated to remain the same. The notice mentions that the manager is listed as Kathleen Street, while a check on Bizapedia indicates that UOH Manager, LLC is a domestic limited-liability company organized under the laws of the State of Texas and that its registered agent/principal is Steven L Scheinthal, who is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Landry's, Inc. Based on information received from Adam Gaffin of Universal Hub, Landry's currently owns another historic local restaurant--the Chart House on Boston's Long Wharf--along with other Chart House locations. More information on this story should come out later this week after the hearing takes place, so stay tuned for more updates as they come in.

The Union Oyster House is one of Boston's oldest restaurants, having debuted back in 1826; it can be found at 41 Union Street just north of Faneuil Hall.

(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 Sports Bra to Open in Boston's Financial District

Last spring, it was reported that a bar with roots in the Pacific Northwest that focuses on women's sports would be expanding to Boston, and now we know where exactly it plans to open.

According to a licensing board hearing page, The Sports Bra is looking to open in the city's Financial District, with the address indicating that it would be moving into a space within the One India Street Apartments between India Street and Broad Street where they both meet State Street. The notice mentions that the upcoming spot would have a main dining area, a main bar, and a private dining room, as well as a seasonal outdoor patio, and based on its original location in Portland, OR, expect it to offer scratch-made food including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, along with beer, cider, wine, cocktails, and mocktails, while also showing women's sports on TV.

The Sports Bra, which debuted in Portland in the spring of 2022, is planning to open other locations in Maine, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and St. Louis in addition to Boston.

The address for the upcoming Sports Bra is 1 India Street (also possibly 2 Broad Street), Boston, MA, 02109. Its website can be found at https://thesportsbraofficial.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Sports Bra (a Portland, OR-Based Sports Bar) Is Expanding to 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.)

Clover in Cambridge's Inman Square Has Closed

A location of a local restaurant chain featuring vegetarian fare has shut down only a couple of months after reopening.

According to a Bluesky post from @kenjimallon.bsky.social, Clover in Cambridge's Inman Square is no longer in operation, with a check on the company's website confirming this, as the Cambridge Street shop is no longer shown on the site, while a source sent us an email from Clover saying that "This closure is a planned part of our new era (smaller company, fewer locations, same amazing food)." Back in June, several locations of Clover reopened shortly after the company said that they would be ceasing operations, and the Inman Square location was one of the shops that opened back up. (Locations in Central Square, Kendall Square, Harvard Square, Boston's Financial District, and the Prudential Center remain open.)

The website for Clover can be found at https://www.cloverfoodlab.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.)

Restaurant News for the Week Ending August 23, 2026

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between August 17, 2026, and August 23, 2026.

SALT Patisserie in Newton Centre to Expand, Opening a New Location in Wellesley
A well-known chef is going to be opening a second location of a local pastry shop.
Full Story

First Crush to Open in Somerville's Union Square
The person behind a business known for its wine popups will be opening a brick-and-mortar place in Somerville.
Full Story

Bottega Cannuccia to Open in the Former Homestead Cafe Space in Fields Corner
The chef/owner of an Italian restaurant in Dorchester will be opening a second spot nearby.
Full Story

EBO & Co. Grocery in East Boston Is Closing
A neighborhood market that offers specialty provisions along with everyday essentials is shutting down.
Full Story

Curiosity Brewing Co. to Open in Davis Square
A brand new brewery and taproom is on its way to Somerville.
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.)