Boston Restaurant Talk

Thursday, April 09, 2026

Yakiniku Plans to Open in Waltham

It looks like a new Asian restaurant will be opening in the western suburbs of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Yakiniku is looking to open in Waltham, moving into a space on Main Street just east of Prospect Street. A Waltham Times article says that the dining spot will focus on Korean BBQ, with burners in the tables for diners to cook all-you-can-eat meat, and the restaurant will offer ramen and sushi as well. If all goes well, Yakiniku could be opening sometime in May.

The address for the proposed Yakiniku is 863-867 Main Street, Waltham, MA, 02451.

(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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Baby Cafe Kitchen in Allston Has Closed

The sole Boston-area location of a California-based group of Hong Kong-style restaurants has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Baby Cafe Kitchen in Allston is no longer in operation, with a check on the website for the business seeming to confirm this, as the Brighton Avenue outlet has been removed from the locations section. The eatery offered such options as Hainan chicken rice, beef stew, wings, salt and pepper squid, pork and egg stone porridge, and seafood udon.

Baby Cafe, which also had a location in Brookline that closed last year and which started out in Oakland, now appears to have only one location left (in Union City, CA).

The address for the now-closed Baby Cafe in Allston was 128 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134. The website for the business is at https://www.babycaferestaurants.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.)

Wednesday, April 08, 2026

Bar 23 and Le Boulevard to Open in Boston's Seaport District

A local restaurant group will be opening a couple of new dining spots on the Boston waterfront.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Bar 23 and Le Boulevard are both planning to open in the city's Seaport District, with Himmel Hospitality Group (Grill 23, Bistro du Midi, Harvest, The Banks) being behind the two places. The article mentions that Bar 23 will be a "spinoff" of Grill 23 with seating for 75 and a focus on steaks, while Le Boulevard will be a Parisian-inspired bistro with seating for 250 including a large patio. If all goes as planned, Bar 23 and Le Boulevard will open in 2027.

The addresses for the two upcoming spots from Himmel Hospitality Group are 11 Fan Pier Boulevard for Bar 23 and 10 Fan Pier Boulevard for Le Boulevard.

(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.)

Ray Adea's Mediterranean & Jamaican Cuisine in Salem Has Closed

A dining spot on the North Shore that offered fusion fare has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via a Salem Food Digest post), Ray Adea's Mediterranean & Jamaican Cuisine in Salem is no longer in business, with a "for lease" sign in the window of the Lafayette Street space. The eatery was known in part for its vegetarian and vegan Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare including falafel, hummus, and babaganoush, while also offering meat-based Jamaican dishes such as jerk chicken, curry goat, oxtail, and steamed fish.

The address for the now-closed Adea's Mediterranean & Jamaican Cuisine was 90 Lafayette Street (Unit 1B), Salem, MA, 01970.

(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.)

Calisto's Has Replaced Boston Pocket and Deli in the South End

A brand new sandwich shop has debuted in the South End of Boston.

According to a Facebook post from the place within the South End Community Board group page, Calisto's is now open on Tremont Street, with the owners taking over the former Boston Pocket and Deli space. The post gives more info on the new spot, including the following:

Calisto's is a European-inspired sandwich shop combining classic deli tradition with modern creativity....A little about us: Pat grew up in an Italian household and has dreamed of running his own food business for as long as he can remember (he went and got a degree in entrepreneurship to back it up). Nick has always had a passion for design, aesthetics, and the arts. When we saw an opportunity to take over a struggling deli and pour everything we had into it, we jumped. We're combining those two worlds — great food and a space that feels intentional and inviting — to create something we think the South End deserves.

The menu for Calisto's includes breakfast sandwiches and hot and cold lunch sandwiches.

The address for Calisto's is 682A Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118. Its website can be found at https://www.calistosdeli.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.)

Lola's Coffee and More in West Medford Has Closed

A coffee shop in West Medford has shut down after being in business for three years.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Lola's Coffee and More on Playstead Road is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the shop saying the following:

Owing to certain challenges with Len's Coffee and changes in my employment situation, we opted for retirement and made preparations for new owners to take over both businesses. Regrettably, after completing the necessary paperwork, the individual set to assume control of Lola's Coffee and More informed us that they would not be proceeding, forcing our hand and leading to this sudden closure.

Lola's first opened in the spring of 2023, moving into the space that had been home to Nourish Your Soul (a location of that business remains in operation in Winchester).

The address for the now-closed Lola's Coffee and More in West Medford was 17 Playstead Road, West Medford, MA, 02155.

(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.)