Grotto to Reopen Cafe Marliave

More than a year after closing down, Cafe Marliave in downtown Boston will open its doors once again, thanks to Grotto, a restaurant on Beacon Hill that has taken over the spot.

In an email sent to Boston's Hidden Restaurants, Grotto says that they are in the process of restoring Marliave, a 120-year-old Bosworth Street institution that featured Italian food in its last incarnation. According to the email, when Cafe Marliave opens this spring, it will have an oyster bar in addition to two dining rooms, and the original tin ceiling and walls, as well as the wood floors, will be restored. A marble bar will also be added to the restaurant.

More updates about the reopening of Cafe Marliave will certainly be coming over the next few weeks, so stay tuned...

Tell Us About Hidden Restaurants in Other Cities!

Boston's Hidden Restaurants has a little-known section (a hidden section on hiddenboston.com, if you will) where readers can tell us about hidden restaurants in Montreal, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC that they have been to. If you know of any restaurants in these cities that aren't well-known and would like to tell us about, please go to any of the links below and create a post on the restaurant.

Hidden Restaurants of Baltimore

Hidden Restaurants of Montreal

Hidden Restaurants of New York City

Hidden Restaurants of Philadelphia

Hidden Restaurants of Washington, DC

Thanks for your input. We'll be looking forward to reading about some of these restaurants!

Report: The Barking Crab in Boston May Move

According to both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald, the Barking Crab, a seafood restaurant currently located along the Fort Point Channel by Seaport Boulevard, may be moved as part of the development of Seaport Square. Developer John B. Hynes III mentioned in the Globe that he would like to move the Barking Crab into his new Seaport Square waterfront development, with the present restaurant site being used as an extension of the Harborwalk walkway.

None of this has been finalized, and in fact a spokesperson for an owner of the Barking Crab told the Globe that the owner did not even know of this proposal.

To read the full story in the Boston Globe, please go to the link below:

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/03/26/developer_would_move_eatery_chapel/

Latest Review: Jasmine Taste of Persia in Watertown

The latest review that is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a tiny restaurant on Mt. Auburn Street in East Watertown called Jasmine Taste of Persia. One of many ethnic food spots in the East Watertown neighborhood, Jasmine features both Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine, with emphasis on cuisine from Iran. Although the place has only 5 or 6 tables, they are a full-service restaurant (they also do a brisk takeout business). To read more about Jasmine Taste of Persia in East Watertown, please click on the link above.

Where To Eat Near Fenway Park (Home of the Boston Red Sox)

The 2008 baseball season begins tomorrow, with the Boston Red Sox playing the Oakland A's at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. But the Sox will be back soon, playing once again at Fenway Park in Boston.

Fans who will be going to Sox games may be looking for restaurants to go to either before or after the game. And unfortunately, many of the more popular restaurants will have long lines. So where is a Sox fan to go? The Boston's Hidden Restaurants site has a page that features restaurants near Fenway Park, many of which are little-known. The page is broken into two sections, with one section telling about restaurants within walking distance of Fenway, and the other mentioning dining spots that are a bit further away, but still close enough to get to by foot if you don't mind walking a bit.

Once again, congratulations to the Boston Red Sox for their championship season in 2007; let's make it two in a row this year!

Ed Note: For information on the Red Sox schedule for this week in Japan, this blog link might be of help:

Peter's Red Sox Forever: BONZAI! The Japan Schedule...

Boston Restaurant Week 2008 Ends Tonight

Just a reminder that Boston Restaurant Week, an event that includes more than 150 Boston-area restaurants, ends tonight (Friday, March 21) after a two-week run.

Boston Restaurant Week began on Sunday, March 9, and featured some of Boston's best restaurants. Three-course prix-fixe lunches cost $20.08, while three-course prix-fixe dinners cost $33.08.

If you would like to let us know about your experiences at Boston Restaurant Week, feel free to post a comment here. Thanks!

Latest Review: Grumpy White's in Quincy

The latest review that is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Grumpy White's in Quincy. Grumpy White's is a family-friendly restaurant near Hough's Neck and Germantown that features mostly comfort food including boneless fried chicken, quadruple burgers, foot-long hot dogs, and macaron and cheese. Prices are cheap, crowds are usually not too bad, and there is plenty of parking. To read more about Grumpy White's in Quincy, please click on the link above.

LifeSavor 2008 to be Held in Boston on March 27

LifeSavor 2008, a dinner party fundraiser set up by Community Servings, will be held at The Langham Hotel in Boston on Thursday, March 27th.

LifeSavor 2008 will include dinner parties at 85 Boston restaurants, with trolley service to and from the Langham Hotel. Tickets are $300, with table sponsorships starting at $3,000.

Community Servings is a nonprofit group that provides free, home-delivered meals to those who have illnesses such as MS, Lupus, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

For more information, please go to the Community Servings Web site at:
http://www.servings.org/

Trans Fats Have Now Been Banned in Boston Restaurants

Trans fats, which have already been banned in restaurants in nearby Brookline as well as in New York City, have now been banned in Boston restaurants.

According to the Associated Press, trans fats will be prohibited from food served in restaurants as well as grocery stores in Boston, with fines of up to $1,000 per violation possible.

An article in the Boston globe mentions that the ban will start going into effect sometime in September of 2008.

Latest Review: Don Ricardo's, Boston

The latest review that is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Don Ricardo's, a Brazilian and Peruvian restaurant in the South End of Boston. Don Ricardo's, which is located in a little shopping center on West Dedham Street, is a quiet, friendly family-owned place with an interesting array of entrees. In addition to Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine, they also feature Spanish and Mexican items on their menu. To read more about Don Ricardo's in the South End of Boston, please click on the link above.

La Brace and Takeshima Leave the Boston Restaurant Scene

Two more Boston-area restaurants have closed their doors, though one of them is more or less re-opening intact, but with a new name.

La Brace, an Italian restaurant on Salem Street in the North End of Boston, has closed after a relatively short time on the Boston restaurant scene. No word as of yet on what is moving into this spot.

Takeshima, a Japanese restaurant on Harvard Street in the Coolidge Corner section of Brookline, has also served their last meal, though a new restaurant called Blue Ocean is now in its place, serving mostly similar food (Japanese and Korean).

There will surely be more restaurant closings (and openings) in the Boston area as time goes on, so be sure to check back here for updates, or go to the following link on Boston's Hidden Restaurants for an extensive list of restaurants closings and openings:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/closings-openings.html

Irish Pubs in Boston

Just a reminder that Boston's Hidden Restaurants has a feature on Irish pubs in the Boston area. With St. Patrick's Day coming up, this section might come in handy for folks who may be looking to tip back a pint or two while listening to good music. Go to our Irish Pubs in Boston page for more information.

Latest Review: Gennaro's Eatery in Quincy

The latest review that is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Gennaro's Eatery, an Italian restaurant located at the corner of Quincy Avenue and Blanchard Road just south of Quincy Center. Gennaro's is a family-friendly spot that features all kinds of food, from subs to pasta to calzones to veal, chicken, pork, and more. It is a bustling, often-crowded spot, but outside of Quincy and the surrounding towns, few people in the Boston area seem to know about it. To read more about Gennaro's Eatery in Quincy, please click on the link above.

Boston Restaurant Week 2008 to Begin on March 9

Boston Restaurant Week, a popular event that includes more than 150 Boston-area restaurants, returns once again to the region.

Starting on Sunday, March 9, and lasting through Friday, March 21 (not including Saturday, March 15), Boston Restaurant Week will feature some of Boston's best dining spots. Three-course prix-fixe lunches will cost $20.08, while three-course prix-fixe dinners will cost $33.08.

For more information on Boston Restaurant Week, go to either of the following sites:

http://www.restaurantweekboston.com/

http://www.bostonchefs.com/