Longfellow Bar Opens in Former Cafe Algiers Space in Harvard Square January 19

by Marc Hurwitz

Two years ago, we reported that a Cambridge institution was closing for good and that one of the region's best-known chefs and restaurateurs was going to open a new spot within the space. Now we have learned that the new place is just about ready to open.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Longfellow Bar opens in Harvard Square tomorrow (Saturday, January 19), taking over the former Cafe Algiers space on Brattle Street. The new dining and drinking spot from Michael Scelfo is located above Alden & Harlow, which is another restaurant from Scelfo, with the the Longfellow space having two floors including a seasonal roof deck. As mentioned earlier, Longfellow features finger foods along with a "geeky" cocktail program and some lesser-known varietal wines, with the menu including such items as warm rye pretzels, deviled eggs, fried chicken tortas, buttermilk-fried sweetbreads, burgers, and waffle fries. Initially, the place will be open for dinner only, but lunch service will be added over the coming weeks.

Cafe Algiers actually closed twice--briefly in the fall of 2016 and a permanent closure in the summer of 2017; the place was known for its Mediterranean fare along with coffee and tea.

The address for Longfellow Bar is 40 Brattle Street #3, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

[Earlier Article]
Longfellow to Replace Cafe Algiers in Cambridge's Harvard Square

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[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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Manoa Poke Shop in Somerville Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

A Somerville restaurant that focuses on a dish that has been trendy over the past few years is shutting down.

According to a source, Manoa Poke Shop on Beacon Street is closing, with an Instagram post from the eatery thanking customers for their support and saying that "It has been a crazy amazing journey for us all, and we wouldn't trade it for anything." No specific closing date has been given, but it looks like it may be shuttering over the next week or so.

Manoa first opened in January of 2017, offering poke (which is a Hawaiian raw fish salad) along with fried chicken, chili rice bowls, kalua pig (slow-cooked pork shoulder), and more. It is one of a number of poke shops that have opened in the Greater Boston area over recent times, including Pokeworks in Somerville's Davis Square, Poke City in Cambridge, Yoki Express in Boston's Seaport District, Love Art Sushi in the Back Bay/Fenway area, and Poke Garden in Brookline.

The address for this soon-to-close restaurant in Somerville is: Manoa Poke Shop, 300 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its website can be found at https://manoa.fish

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[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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Spice Delight Opens in Former Golden Garden Space in Belmont

by Marc Hurwitz

A brand new Indian restaurant has come to the western suburbs of Boston, and it takes over the space where a Chinese spot had once been.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Spice Delight is now open in Belmont, moving into the former Golden Garden space on Concord Avenue. A Belmont Citizen Herald article mentions that the new eatery features North Indian cuisine, including such items as naan, lentil soup, chicken tikka masala, goat biryani, lamb kababs, tandoori chicken, and fish curry.

Golden Garden closed in June of 2017 after being in business for approximately seven years, though another location remains in operation in Malden; both the now-closed Belmont location and the current Malden location have been known in part for their northeastern Chinese fare.

The address for this new restaurant in Belmont is: Spice Delight, 63 Concord Avenue, Belmont, MA, 02478. Its website can be found at https://spicedelightma.com/

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[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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Peet's Coffee & Tea in Brookline's Coolidge Corner Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

Earlier today, we reported that a Boston location of a coffee chain was getting ready to close, and now we have learned that another location in the Boston area will be shutting down that day as well.

According to an article in the Patch, Peet's Coffee & Tea in the Coolidge Corner section of Brookline is closing on January 25, with the Harvard Street spot having a similar sign to that of the Charles Street location in Beacon Hill, referring customers to Peet's at Capital One on Boylston Street in Boston and a location of Peet's in Cambridge's Harvard Square. (The sign at the Beacon Hill shop referred patrons to the Peet's within Capital One banks on both Boylston Street and Tremont Street in Boston.) It appears that other locations of the chain in Lexington, Sudbury, and Wellesley will remain in operation, though if this changes, we will post an update here.

The address for Peet's in Coolidge Corner is 285 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for the chain is at http://www.peets.com/

[Earlier Article]
Peet's Coffee & Tea in Beacon Hill Is Closing

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[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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Posto May Be Opening in Bedford, Possibly Taking Over the Comella's Space in the Bedford Marketplace

by Marc Hurwitz

The person behind several Boston-area dining and drinking spots may be expanding one of his brands to another suburban space.

According to a Twitter post from @bedfordma, Posto is apparently looking to open in the space in Bedford where Comella's resides (in the Bedford Marketplace on Great Road), with a public hearing notice posted by @bedfordma showing that a public hearing was recently held to look into the proposed liquor license transfer from Comella's to Posto, with Joseph Cassinelli of the Alpine Restaurant Group being the manager listed. It is not known when Comella's might close if the plans are approved, and it also is not known if this location of Posto would be similar to the Somerville location of Posto--which is basically an Italian trattoria--or more like Osteria Posto in Waltham--which is more of an Italian steakhouse--so stay tuned as any updates come in.

In addition to the two locations of Posto, Cassinelli and his restaurant group also run Rosebud and the Painted Burro in Somerville as well as the Burro Bar in Boston and Brookline. (Comella's is a small chain of Italian eateries with a number of locations in the Greater Boston area.)

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[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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Dough in East Boston Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

A popular spot in East Boston for pizza and more is saying farewell.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Dough on Maverick Street is closing down tomorrow (Friday, January 18), with an Instagram post from the place saying that "We are taking the opportunity to explore new and exciting opportunities and to spend more time with our families, which is our highest priority." The dining spot, which opened 13 years ago, has been known in part for its pizza along with its subs and sandwiches, with the Phantom Gourmet pointing out its Cajun chicken cheesesteak and its Vermonter a number of years back while boston.com featured it as a cheap eats place that "takes its laid-back vibe seriously."

The address for Dough is 20 Maverick Street, East Boston, MA, 02128.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Pizzas in the Boston Area]

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