Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Tsunami Restaurant to Open in Arlington

One Japanese restaurant in Arlington has officially closed, with another one to open in its place. Tsunami Restaurant will soon be opening up at 669a Massachusetts Avenue (across from the Arlington Public Library), replacing Shanghai and Tokyo, a Chinese and Japanese restaurant that closed its doors for vacation this past spring and never re-opened.

No other details could be found about the opening of Tsunami Restaurant, but there is currently a temporary sign displaying the name of the restaurant above the front door, signifying that it won't be long before Tsunami is in business...

Jimbo's Steak and Fin in Braintree Has Closed

Another restaurant in the Boston area has closed. Early this morning, we discovered that Jimbo's Steak and Fin in Braintree had a For Lease sign in front of the restaurant, and the apparent closing of this Franklin Street restaurant was soon confirmed in an article by the Quincy Patriot Ledger. According to the Ledger, a sign has been posted in front of Jimbo's that refers diners to the Granite Grill, which is a few blocks away in a shopping center on Granite Street.

Jimbo’s Steak and Fin, which used to be called Jimbo’s South (and was connected with the now-closed Jimmy's Harborside in Boston), specialized in seafood dishes and traditional American fare. It was a popular neighborhood restaurant that attracted a variety of folks, including families, retirees, and a younger crowd later at night.

For more on the closing of Jimbo's, please go to the Patriot Ledger link below:

Jimbo’s closes in Braintree

Monday, September 29, 2008

Jerry Remy's Sports Bar and Grill Opens at Logan Airport, East Boston

A new restaurant has come to Logan Airport in East Boston, and the owner of this restaurant certainly has a familiar name. Jerry Remy's Sports Bar and Grill is now open and is located in the pre-security section of Terminal C at Logan. The restaurant has room for 115 diners, and its menu includes soups, salads, sandwiches, and comfort food, with the macaroni and cheese bring the signature dish here. Jerry Remy's also has an extensive beer and wine list, as well as cocktails, single malt scotches and bourbons, and cordials and liqueurs.

The phone number for Jerry Remy's Sports Bar and Grill is (617) 567-5379. Please note that validated parking for the restaurant is not offered.

On a side note, another Jerry Remy's Sports Bar and Grill will open next to Fenway Park in the spring of 2009 in the former WBCN building on Boylston Street.

Jerry Remy is a former Red Sox second baseman who is now a broadcaster for NESN Red Sox games. He also runs the Remy Report Web site.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Latest Review: The Snug, Hingham

photo of The Snug in Hingham, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for The Snug, a cozy little Irish pub in the center of Hingham. The Snug is housed in a charming old building that feels more like a house than a restaurant, and the small bar area has a lot of character, with its dark woods and well-worn feel. To read more about The Snug in Hingham, please click on the link above.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Emma's Pub and Pizza Opens in Norton; A Third Location Coming to Bridgewater Center

A second Emma's Pub and Pizza has opened south of Boston. Ron Emma (owner of the original Emma's in Bridgewater) said in a recent email that the new Emma's opened in Norton over the past weekend (Sunday, September 21, to be exact), and that they are also working on opening a third dining spot called Emma's Pub and Pizza Downtown in Bridgewater Center.

The original Emma's Pub and Pizza, which is located on Route 104 just east of the Route 24 intersection, is known for its excellent bar pizza, cheap prices, and quirky atmosphere.

King Fung Garden in Chinatown to Close

One of Boston's best Chinese restaurants is closing.

According to the Boston Herald, King Fung Garden, a Kneeland Street hole in the wall that is renowned for its Peking duck as well as several other outstanding dishes, will close its doors for good on Monday, September 29. The Herald mentions that the owner of the restaurant will be going to King Fung Garden II in Brookline to join his wife there.

King Fung Garden has constantly been on the "best of" lists for Chinese restaurants in the Boston area, and while its lack of atmosphere is almost legendary (glaring lights, uncomfortable seating, tight quarters), the food has always more than made up for its spartan digs.

King Fung's departure comes on the heels of the closing of another famous Chinatown restaurant. Grand Chau Chow, which was located on Beach Street and was one of Chinatown's most popular dining spots, shut its doors in August.

To read the Boston Herald blurb on the closing of King Fung Garden in Chinatown, please go to the link below:

King on the road (and more...)

Thanks to 9lives, a regular Chowhound poster, for alerting folks to the closing of this restaurant.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Fire at Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Cambridge

Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Harvard Square is closed indefinitely because of a kitchen fire that occurred over the weekend.

According to the Harvard Crimson, the fire broke out on Saturday morning at the famous Cambridge burger joint, causing about $10,000 in damage. The Crimson goes on to report that the owner of Mr. Bartley's is not sure when the restaurant will open its doors again.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

For more information on the fire at Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage, please go to the Harvard Crimson link below:

Kitchen Fire Closes Bartley's

Friday, September 19, 2008

The Greek Grille Is Coming to Winchester

It appears that a new Greek restaurant is coming to the Boston area. The Greek Grille, will be located on Main Street in Winchester (near the north side of the rotary in the center of town) and looks like it may end up being mostly a takeout place, based on the size of the spot. The sign out front mentions basic Greek dishes, including souvlaki.

Stay tuned as we get more information on the Greek Grille. It is not open just yet (and there is no information on the restaurant at the present time), but we'll be sure to post updates on this upcoming Winchester dining spot as we get them.

Write a Review on Your Favorite Restaurant!

As some of you know, Boston's Hidden Restaurants has a special feature where folks can tell about their favorite restaurants in Boston, New England, and beyond. If you would like to give us a review on your favorite restaurant, please use the form below and we'll try to post it as soon as possible! (Please note that all entries added to our site become the property of Boston's Hidden Restaurants, and they will be subject to editing. Also, not all entries will be added to our site.)

To see this feature, click on this link: Viewers' Favorite Restaurants

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT:


Your name or initials:


Your city or town:


Your email address (if you wish to be
on our email newsletter notification list):


What is your favorite restaurant? Include the town
or city and a description, if you want:




R.J. Crowley’s in West Newton to Become The Local

R.J. Crowley’s in West Newton will soon be replaced by a pub that will specialize in locally-produced food and beers.

According to the Boston Herald, the soon-to-be-open pub, which will be called The Local, will have beer on tap that represents brewers from each state in New England as well as a house brew made by either the Boston Beer Company or the Harpoon Brewery. The Herald further mentions that The Local will look less like an Irish pub and more like a modern watering hole.

The Local should be open by early October.

For more information on the opening of The Local in West Newton, go to the Boston Herald link below:

West Newton Irish pub to go Local

More Restaurant Closures Due to the Rough Economy

As mentioned earlier this week, Ma Glockner's, a Bellingham, MA restaurant that was a favorite among locals, has closed after more than 70 years in business due to the poor economy. Sadly, two more beloved restaurants/food spots in New England have also closed recently because of the tough economic times. Sausage Heaven, a sausage wholesaler and retailer on West Auburn Street in Manchester, NH, has shut its doors, while Paul's Famous Hamburgers on Route 1 in Milford, CT, has closed after more than 60 years in business.

There will certainly be more restaurants and food places closing over the coming months due to the present state of the economy. Stay tuned, as any closings that happen around Boston and New England will be posted here.

(Thanks to Chowhound and the Connecticut Post for bringing these closings to our attention.)

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Ecco in East Boston Opens

A new upscale Italian restaurant and tapas bar in East Boston will open its doors on Saturday. Ecco, which is located on Porter Street, had a soft opening earlier this week and will officially open on September 20. The restaurant will feature small plates, full meals, and a variety of martinis and wines, as well as desserts, espresso, and cappuccino.

Ecco resides in the spot formerly occupied by Sablone's and is within site of Santarpio's, a Boston institution famous for its pizza.

Here is the address and phone number for Ecco:

Ecco
107 Porter Street
East Boston, MA
02128
Phone: (617) 561-1112

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Ma Glockner's in Bellingham Closes

The shaky economy has claimed another victim in the restaurant world, this time southwest of Boston. According to the Milford Daily News, Ma Glockner's Restaurant in Bellingham has closed its doors after being in business for 71 years. The article in the Daily News mentions that the closing was due to the poor economy and increasing food costs.

Ma Glockner's was a local favorite in the Bellingham area with two dishes that patrons loved in particular: The berched chicken (par-boiled, then grilled) and the homemade cinnamon buns.

For a full report on the closing of Ma Glockner's in Bellingham, please go to the Milford Daily News link below:

Ma Glockner's closes

Thanks to Tunia, a Chowhound poster, for bringing this to our attention...

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Phantom Gourmet Food Festival Coming to Boston September 20, 2008

The Phantom Gourmet Food Festival is just around the corner. It will be held once again near Fenway Park in Boston at the corner of Ipswich and Lansdowne Streets on Saturday, September 20, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Tickets are $40 and includes unlimited food from 80 different restaurants, pastry shops, bakeries, and ice cream shops.

Please note that this is a 21-plus event.

If you would like more information on the Food Festival, please click the Phantom Gourmet link below:

http://www.phantomgourmetfoodfestival.com/

Salem Fall Restaurant Week, September 14-18, 2008

Salem Fall Restaurant Week is being held this week. It started on Sunday, September 14, and will be running until Thursday, September 18.

Unlike Boston Restaurant Week, this event does not include lunch (it is dinner only). Prices for a prix fixe three-course meal is $20.08, but some restaurants are also including an exclusive dinner option that costs $30.08.

Restaurants that are participating include The Black Lobster at Stromberg's Cove, Caffe Graziani, Capt.'s Waterfront Grill and Club, Cilantro, Finz, Grapevine, Lyceum Bar and Grill, Nathaniel's, Passage to India, Regatta Pub, Rockafellas, Sixty2 on Wharf, Spirits at 300 Derby, Strega, Tavern at the Hawthorne, Thai Ginger, and Thai Place.

For more information, go to the Salem Chamber of Commerce link at http://www.salem-chamber.org/restaurantweekfall2008.html.

Latest Review: Mango II, Tewksbury

photo of Mango II, Tewksbury, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Thai restaurant on Route 38 in Tewksbury called Mango II. Located in a nondescript strip mall near the Wilmington line, Mango II is a friendly, comfortable place that features authentic Thai food. The quality of the food at Mango II approaches the greatness of some of the best Thai restaurants in the Boston area. To read more about Mango II in Tewksbury, please click on the link above.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Ban of Trans Fats in Boston Restaurants Made Official

The use of trans fats in foods at Boston restaurants was officially banned over the past weekend.

According to the Boston Globe, the unhealthy fats will no longer be allowed in any of Boston's dining spots. The Globe further mentions that Boston city inspectors will look to see if restaurants are in compliance of the new rule during their regular inspections, fining those restuarants that violate the rule upwards of $1,000.

For the full story on the banning of trans fats in Boston restaurants, please go to the Boston Globe link below:

Trans fats now banned in Boston restaurants

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Stone Hearth Pizza Now Open in Cambridge

While we're on the topic of restaurant openings and closings, it might be a good time to mention that the new Stone Hearth Pizza is now open on Mass. Ave. in Cambridge (near Porter Square).

Stone Hearth Pizza, which also has locations in Belmont and Needham, replaced DiMio Pizza, which closed earlier this summer.

The address for the new Stone Hearth Pizza in Cambridge is: Stone Hearth Pizza, 1782 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140. The phone number is 617-492-1111.

Restaurant Openings, Closings - September, 2008

There have been a number of restaurant closings in the Boston area over the past few weeks, as well as a few openings of new restaurants.

Included in the former are Aneka Rasa, a Malaysian restaurant in Allston that has closed; Sabor Do Brasil, a Brazilian restaurant between Porter Square and Union Square in Somerville; and Eastern Pier II, a Chinese restaurant in the Seaport District of South Boston.

In the latter category are Max & Dylan's, a restuarant in downtown Boston that just opened; BurgerWorks, a burger joint in North Beverly; Roadhouse BBQ, a barbecue joint in Brookline; and T-Rex Taqueria, a Mexican restaurant, also in Brookline.

More closings and openings seem to be happening nearly every day, so keep checking back on this site for more updates, or go to our Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area section within the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site.

(Thanks to Chowhound and the Salem News for bringing some of these to our attention.))

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

BurgerWorks in Beverly Is Now Open

According to Paul Leighton of the Salem News (and as posted on the Eagle-Tribune blog), BurgerWorks, a burger joint in Beverly, is now open. BurgerWorks, which takes over the spot vacated by Big Bully's in 2007, is located in the North Beverly Plaza on Route 1A, just north of the Route 128 exit.

As mentioned in an earlier blog entry on this site (and as reported by the Salem News), BurgerWorks is owned by the folks who used to own Yanks, a now-closed upscale restaurant that was in Beverly Farms (Zoes Tapas and Bar now resides where Yanks used to be).

Below is a link to the note posted on the Eagle-Tribune blog:

New burger joint open in North Beverly

Monday, September 08, 2008

Latest Review: Foley's Backstreet Grille, Stoughton

photo of Foley's Backstreet Grille in Stoughton, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Foley's Backstreet Grille, a family-friendly neighborhood dining spot in Stoughton. Foley's Backstreet Grille is a warm, comfortable restaurant a bit off the beaten path that features mostly traditional American dishes and comfort food. It is a popular place with locals, though few people outside of the area seem to know about it. To read more about Foley's Backstreet Grille in Stoughton, please click on the link above.

Friday, September 05, 2008

Eastern Pier II Closes; Atlantic Beer Garden To Open In Its Place

Eastern Pier II, a highly-rated Chinese restaurant on Northern Avenue in the Seaport District of Boston, has closed its doors. In its place, according to the Boston Herald, will be an upscale restaurant and bar called the Atlantic Beer Garden. This will be the third beer garden owned by Jon Cronin of Cronin Development (the Boston Beer Garden and the Brighton Beer Garden are the others). It appears that the adjacent Seaport Bar & Grille will remain open.

Thanks to Albie, a poster on Chowhound, for bringing this to our attention. (See link below.)

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/554704

For the full Boston Herald article, please see the link below that is from a hospitality and tourism blog:

Beer Garden in the Seaport article

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Peabody Restaurant Week to Be Held September 7-11, 2008

The city of Peabody is holding its first annual Peabody Restaurant Week, starting this Sunday. September 7. The event will continue through Thursday, September 11, with a number of restaurants participating, including Sugar Cane, Willowtree, Gallo Nero, Champions, China Corner, Trackside Bar and Grille, and Fire Bull. A $15 prix fixe menu (drinks not included) will be offered at each of the participating Peabody dining spots.

This event comes as the city gets ready for the 25th annual Peabody International Festival, which will be held on Sunday, September 14.

For more information on Peabody Restaurant Week, please go to the following link:

http://www.peabodyrestaurantweek.blogspot.com/

CBS Scene to Open at Patriot Place in Foxboro This Week

After many months of anticipation, a new dining and entertainment spot called CBS Scene will be opening at Patriot Place in Foxboro, MA, this week. CBS Scene is one of a number of restaurants opening in this huge shopping and entertainment complex located next to Gillette Stadium (home of the New England Patriots). According to the Attleboro Sun Chronicle, other dining spots opening in Patriot Place will include Skipjacks, Blue Fin Lounge, Tastings Wine Bar and Bistro, Red Robin (which is already open), Bar Louie, and Davios.

Latest Review: Patou Thai, Belmont

photo of Patou Thai, Belmont, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Thai restaurant in Belmont Center called Patou Thai. One of several restaurants that now can be found in the center of Belmont, Patou Thai concentrated mostly on authentic Thai dishes, though a few more familiar Americanized Thai dishes are also offered here. Atmosphere is serene and low-key, and a patio out back allows patrons to be able to eat outdoors in the warmer months. To read more about Patou Thai in Belmont, please click on the link above.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Upstairs at the Marliave to Open This Thursday (September 4)

The upstairs dining room at Marliave will be opening its doors for the first time this Thursday evening. This local landmark, which re-opened under the ownership of Grotto, a Beacon Hill restaurant, will now be fully open both upstairs and downstairs.

According to an email received from Grotto, the menu upstairs at Marliave will feature items such as foie gras sliders, horseradish-crusted Colorado lamb rack, tuna Wellington, butter-poached lobster, and dry-aged Wolf Neck farm sirloin with duck fat fries. The email also mentioned that there will also be a cheese cart with more than 20 selections. House-prepared desserts will also be offered.

Marliave, which is located on Bosworth Street in downtown Boston, has had its downstairs area open since the middle of August.

For more information on Marliave, go to the following link:

http://www.marliave.com/home/