Friday, January 29, 2010

Various News: La Posada, Ataraxis Tavern, CnDs Barbeque Grille

A few brief updates on more new restaurants in the Boston area:

It looks like a Mexican restaurant called La Posada will apparently be moving into the spot on Mass. Ave. in Arlington Heights where the restaurant section of Something Savory used to be (Something Savory is still open as a caterer). Very little is know about this restaurant as of now, but we're working on getting some updates on the place. Thanks to both a poster on our Facebook fan page and a person who works in the neighborhood for letting us know about La Posada.

A restaurant and bar on Atlantic Avenue in Marblehead called Flynnies on the Avenue is being replaced by a new spot called the Ataraxis Tavern. According to another one of our Facebook posters, the new restaurant and watering hole will feature comfort food, and may be opening this weekend. According to a selectmen's minutes page on the Marblehead Reporter/Wicked Local site, hours for the Ataraxis Tavern will be 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM seven days a week.

It appears that Wakefield is home to a new BBQ spot. According to one of our sources, CnDs Barbeque Grille recently opened on Water Street, bringing to this northern suburb of Boston a place for pulled pork, chicken wings, ribs, and more. Located just east of Main Street (by the railroad tracks) in the center of Wakefield, CnDs Barbeque Grille looks to be a small spot that focuses on takeout.

Thanks to everyone who helped up piece this article together. Again, as we receive updates, we'll be sure to post them here.

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Cedar Crest Restaurant to Reopen in North Andover

A beloved restaurant and diner that recently closed in Lawrence after being in business since the 1930s is going to be opening back up again in a neighboring community. According to an article in the North Andover Citizen and Wicked Local, the Cedar Crest Restaurant is going to be moving into the spot on Route 125 in North Andover where The Keys Grille used to be. The article mentions that the new space will be smaller than the original, which was on Broadway in Lawrence (the original had a capacity of about 300; the new space will have room for about 90). The counter from the original diner in Lawrence is going to be brought over to the new North Andover space, according to the article.

It appears that the new Cedar Crest Restaurant might be open by February 1, but we'll post updates as to their progress. The restaurant will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. [February 8 update: According to a frequent poster on the Chowhound site, the Cedar Crest Restaurant has opened its doors in North Andover.]

The address for the new location of this restaurant will be: Cedar Crest Restaurant, 585 Chickering Road, North Andover, MA, 01845.

To read more about the reopening of the Cedar Crest Restaurant, please go to the North Andover Citizen/Wicked Local link below:

Cedar Crest is coming back: Much loved Lawrence restaurant reopening in North Andover

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A Twitter List of Boston-Area Restaurants on the Site

A little while back we created a list of Boston-area restaurant that are on Twitter for our Facebook page. This list basically shows an alphabetical listing of all the area restaurants that have joined Twitter. This week, however, we used this list of restaurants to create a list within our Twitter page, and this one has one big advantage over the list on Facebook, namely that it shows postings from these restaurants in live time, which means you can go to the list and get the latest updates on daily specials, events, and other news.

To go to this new list of Boston-area restaurants on Twitter, please go to the link below:

http://twitter.com/hiddenboston/boston-area-restaurants

And to go to our older list within Facebook, here is the link for that page:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=103555437619

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Sonny Noto's Is Opening in Wakefield

It looks like an Italian restaurant in East Boston is going to be opening another location outside of the city. According to the Wakefield Observer and Wicked Local, Sonny Noto's in the Central Square section of East Boston recently received a liquor and common victualler's license for a new dining spot on Water Street (Route 129) in this northern suburb of Boston. The article mentions that the restaurant, which may be called Sonny Noto's as well, has no specific opening date at this time. [February 28 update: According to the East Boston Times-Free Press, the new Sonny Noto's will be located at 49 Water Street, which is a couple of blocks east of Main Street near the town center.]

[June 1 update: According to one of our spotters, Sonny Noto's may be opening tomorrow (Wednesday, June 2). We will post another update to confirm this as soon as we get more information.]

The original Sonny Noto's is a breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot in East Boston that features a mix of subs, wraps, sandwiches, and pasta dishes, as well as Italian entrees with veal, chicken, and seafood. The restaurant also has a catering menu.

For more information on the planned opening of a new location of Sonny Noto's in Wakefield, please go to the Wakefield Observer/Wicked Local link below:

New Italian restaurant coming to Water Street

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Firefly in the Back Bay Has Been Replaced by Six Burner

A casual American bistro in the Back Bay of Boston that had been around for the better part of ten years has become a new restaurant that also features traditional American food. According to the restaurant's website, Firefly an American Bistro on Dartmouth Street (across from Back Bay Station) has become Six Burner, a restaurant and bar that features lunch, dinner, and a Sunday brunch.

The lunch and dinner menu at Six Burner includes comfort food items such as chicken pot pie spring rolls, chili nachos, omelettes, Kobe beef hot dogs, black bean burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, tuna melts, lobster macaroni and cheese, pot roast, and meat loaf. Prices for meals are mostly around or below $10.

The address for this new restaurant and bar in the Back Bay of Boston is: Six Burner, 130 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The phone number is (617) 262-4393. And the website is at: http://www.sixburnerboston.com/

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this new restaurant to our attention.

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Life Alive Opening in Central Square, Cambridge

It looks like a cafe in Lowell that features healthy, organic food is going to be opening a new location in the Boston area. According to a recent post on the Bistro Broad Twitter page, Life Alive is planning on opening a second spot in Cambridge, and an Internet search resulted in the finding of an old post on the Boston Vegan Association website that mentioned this as well. We also did a check on the Life Alive website today and the site did indicate that a "new store in Metro-Boston" is indeed on the way. [Update: An email from Life Alive indicated that they are hoping to open this spring in the Central Square section of Cambridge, not Inman Square as had previous been mentioned.]

The original Life Alive, which is located on Middle Street in the arts district of downtown Lowell, features a variety of vegetarian and vegan food, with their menu including soups, salads, wraps, hot entrees, and smoothies. Prices for meals generally range between $5.00 and $10.00.

It is not know at this time where the new Life Alive might be located in Central Square. We are hoping to get some more information shortly; when we do, we will post an update here.

[September 24 update: Life Alive will be located at 765 Mass. Ave. in Cambridge (at the Pleasant Street and Inman Street intersections in the heart of the square). According to the restaurant's website, an October soft opening is planned.]

[October 28 update: The new Life Alive in Cambridge is now open. For those of you who are looking for their phone number, it is (617) 354-5433.]

For more information on the upcoming opening of Life Alive in Cambridge, please go to the earlier Boston Vegan Association link below (again, please note that the restaurant will be opening in Central Square, not Inman):

Raw, Vegan, Organic Restaurant Opening in Boston

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Monday, January 25, 2010

The Haven Opens, Bringing Scottish Food and Drink to Jamaica Plain

It appears that a Scottish restaurant and pub may be coming to the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. According to the Jamaica Plain Gazette, a place called the Wee Angel is looking to move into the Perkins Street space where the eclectic restaurant Zon's used to be before closing last year. At this point in time, the Wee Angel seems to be in the planning stages only, as the article mentions that the person behind the restaurant is hoping to get a malt and wine license over the coming days, with more steps in the opening process to follow.

In addition to Scottish food and drink, the Wee Angel may also end up having live music, according to the article in the Gazette.

[March 29, April 2 updates: According to Everyblock Boston, there is a name change for this upcoming restaurant, as a license withdrawal was made for Wee Angel, and a license for a place called The Haven was given for the same Perkins Street address. This name change has been confirmed by the creation of a Twitter page for The Haven.]

[June 24 update: The Haven is now open, and will debut their brunch this weekend along with soccer on the big screen.]

The address for this Scottish restaurant and pub is: The Haven, 2 Perkins Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.

For more information on the opening of The Haven in Jamaica Plain, please go to the Jamaica Plain Gazette link below:

Scottish pub looks to replace Zon's

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this to our attention.

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Friday, January 22, 2010

2010 Celebrate Seafood Dinner Series Starts on January 26 at the New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium is launching its annual dinner series next week, with a focus on sustainable seafood. The Celebrate Seafood Dinner Series for 2010 kicks off on Tuesday, January 26, with a three-course menu that will include wild Pacific cod, US farmed shrimp, and US farmed barramundi.

The Celebrate Seafood Dinner Series, which is in its third year now, will feature Brendon Bashford, the Executive Chef at Fairmont Battery Wharf and Sensing restaurant in the North End of Boston, along with Aquarium Chef Tim Ridge. The chefs will lead cooking demonstrations during the event, while Aquarium Director of Conservation Lydia Bergen will discuss each dish's sustainability features.

Six dinners (including wine pairings), each with a local guest chef, are planned for 2010. Tickets for each event, including the first one next Tuesday, are $65 for members and $75 for non-members. All events start at 6:30 PM at the Harbor View Cafe within the Aquarium.

To find out more on next week's dinner at the New England Aquarium, please go to the link below:

Celebrate Seafood

You can also register online at http://www.neaq.org or by calling (617) 973-5206.

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Pasta Beach Is Opening at Rowes Wharf

It appears that a restaurant in Newport, RI, is bringing a second location to the Boston waterfront. According to the EveryBlock Boston site, a dining spot named Pasta Beach recently received a business license to open at Rowes Wharf, a mixed-used retail, office, and residential development just south of Long Wharf and the New England Aquarium.

Pasta Beach in Newport features a variety of pastas as well as salads, pizza, and sandwiches. Prices for entrees are generally between $10 and $20.

[October 22 update: According to UrbanDaddy, Pasta Beach is planning on opening tonight. It is probably best to call before heading there just in case--their phone number is (617) 439-6900.]

The address for this new restaurant along the Boston waterfront is: Pasta Beach, 30 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110.

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Uno Pizza Chain Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

A Boston-based chain of restaurants featuring deep-dish pizza has filed for bankruptcy. According to the Boston Globe, Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 protection this week, allowing the chain to restructure its debt and get its balance sheet back in order. The Globe mentions that Uno looks to stay in business, with little in the way of changes to its restaurants during the restructuring process.

According to the Globe article, three Uno restaurants have recently closed in Massachusetts (Fairhaven, Kingston, and Methuen), along with 13 others around the country that were underperforming. About 30 Uno locations remain open in the state, including four within the Boston city limits, two in Cambridge, and a handful of others in the suburbs. The corporate headquarters for Uno are in West Roxbury.

To read more about the filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy by Uno Restaurant Holdings Corp., please go to the Boston Globe article below.

Uno vows Chapter 11 is only temporary setback

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

A Burger Bash to Benefit Autism Speaks Is Being Held February 1, 2010

[Update: This event is SOLD OUT. Thanks to the Food Monkey site and one of our Twitter followers for this information.]

A food-based event to benefit the country's largest autism science and advocacy organization is coming to Boston at the beginning of February.

According to the Tripvine site, the KO Prime All Star Burger Bash will be held in the Nine Zero Hotel on Tremont Street in downtown Boston on Monday, February 1. The event, which will benefit Autism Speaks, is a burger contest between some of the Boston area's top chefs, including Ken Oringer and Josh Buehler (KO Prime), Andy Husbands (Tremont 647), Jamie Bissonette (Toro and Coppa), Michael Schlow (Radius and Via Matta), and several others.

Tripvine mentions that the judging of the burgers will be done by event guests as well as culinary writers/authors Andrew Rimas and J. Kenji Lopez-Alt.

Tickets to the KO Prime All Star Burger Bash are $25 (update--as stated above, this event is SOLD OUT). The event will take place from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

For more information on the KO Prime All Star Burger Bash, please go to the following Tripvine link:

Another Chance to Vote: Boston's All Star Burger Bash for Autism Speaks

And to learn more about Autism Speaks, please go to the website below:

http://www.autismspeaks.org/

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Websites with Information on Boston-Area Restaurants Helping Haiti

The devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12 has resulted in countless people and businesses around the world trying to help the people of this Caribbean country, with donations of money, clothes, food, water, etc. And folks in the Boston area have indeed been actively helping out, with businesses--including restaurants--reaching out to the Haitian people.

A number of websites have created lists of area restaurants that have been involved in helping with relief efforts; we have links to four of these below, including Grub Street Boston, The Examiner, BostonChefs.com, and the Boston Herald. Please note that some of the information on these pages is dated, with events already being held, but many more listings remain relevant. Also, if you know of any other restaurants that are hosting events or helping out in any other way, please post comments below, thanks!

[Grub Street Boston]
Where to Eat for Haiti

[The Examiner]
More chefs help out Haiti: updated

[BostonChefs.com]
Helping Haiti

[Boston Herald]
Hub for Haiti: How you can help

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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Doc's Long Wharf Appears to Be Coming to the Boston Waterfront

A new restaurant along the Boston waterfront may be on the way, now that the Department of Environmental Protection has rejected a challenge to stop construction on the place. According to the Boston Herald, the DEP ruled late last week in favor of the building of Doc's Long Wharf, a seafood restaurant that Eat Drink Laugh Restaurant Group wants to open (this is the same group behind the 21st Amendment, a dining spot on Beacon Hill).

The Herald mentions that a couple of years ago, some North End residents challenged the building of the restaurant, stating that the space where the Long Wharf Pavilion sits was protected and should not be commercialized. (The Long Wharf Pavilion is located at the end of the wharf, across from the New England Aquarium and a short distance up from the Chart House restaurant.)

Based on the decision by the DEP, Doc's Long Wharf could be open in time for the 2010 tourist season, according to the article.

[May 5, 2011 update: According to The Boston Herald, Doc's Long Wharf restaurant is meeting up with resistance by some in the North End, and in fact there is a lawsuit (filed last fall) to keep the restaurant from opening. The Herald mentions that a Suffolk Superior Court judge will be making a decision on the lawsuit, but for now, there appears to be a question as to whether Doc's will be able to open in this spot.]

For more information on the approval of the building of Doc's Long Wharf restaurant along the Waterfront, please go to the Boston Herald link below:

State OKs Long Wharf restaurant

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Latest Review: Swanton Street Diner, Winchester

photo of the Swanton Street Diner, Winchester, MAThe latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a restaurant in Winchester called the Swanton Street Diner. Located between Washington Street and Route 38 a short distance north of the town center, the Swanton Street Diner is a warm, comfortable place that features much more than standard diner food. Included on the menu are such items as beef wellington and Australian lamb chops, as well as more traditional diner fare such as burgers, club sandwiches, and a roast turkey dinner. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. To read more about the Swanton Street Diner in Winchester, please click on the link above.

Azama Grill Opening in Allston

A restaurant featuring kabobs and other Middle Eastern cuisine is coming to the Allston section of Boston. According to the restaurant's website, Azama Grill will be opening on Harvard Avenue (between Cambridge Street and Brighton Avenue), bringing to the neighborhood a place to get halal food seven days a week--and late into the night, as their doors will remain open until 3:00 AM. In addition to kabobs, the menu at Azama Grill will include such dishes as tabouli, hoummous, falafel, baba ghanouj, shawarma, and Egyptian BBQ.

Azama Grill does not appear to be open as of yet; we will post an update when we find out an opening date for this restaurant. [January 26 update: According to a veteran poster on Chowhound, the Azama Grill is now open, though the restaurant appears to be cash-only for now.]

Hours for Azama Grill are 11:00 AM to 3:00 AM seven days a week. The address is: Azama Grill, 54 Harvard Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134. And their website is at: http://azamagrill.com/

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this restaurant to our attention.

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Monday, January 18, 2010

Rock Island Food Company Is Opening in Quincy

It looks like another new dining spot will soon be opening in Quincy. According to the the licensing section of the City of Quincy website (with extra information provided by the Quincy Farmers' Market site), the Rock Island Food Company is looking to open on Sea Street, which is the road that leads east into the Hough's Neck section of the city. Based on the menu that has been posted on the restaurant's website, the Rock Island Food Company appears to be mainly a breakfast, lunch, and (early) dinner spot featuring a mix of American dishes and seafood, with menu items including chili, clam chowder, lobster rolls, pizza, beef stew, pulled pork, and cod cakes. According to the Quincy Farmers' Market site, the restaurant looks like it is going to be focusing on takeout and delivery.

A poster on our Facebook site indicated that the Rock Island Food Company may be opening by the end of January. We will try to confirm this over the coming days.

[November 8, 2011 update: Nearly two years after first reporting about the place, Rock Island Food Company is now open. Thanks to a poster on Chowhound for bringing this to our attention.]

The address for this new restaurant in Quincy is: Rock Island Food Company, 1189 Sea Street, Quincy, MA, 02169. Their website can be found at: http://rockislandfoodcompany.com/

Friday, January 15, 2010

Battery Park Bar and Lounge to Open in the Financial District

A new restaurant, bar, and entertainment spot is looking to open soon in the Financial District of Boston. According to a comment (see below) from a person behind the restaurant, the Battery Park Bar and Lounge should be opening its doors later this winter on Batterymarch Street, which is two blocks east of Post Office Square in the heart of the city. And a post within the Yelp site states that Battery Park will be a sports lounge that features traditional American food, and it will include a patio with a capacity of more than 100.

The owners of the Battery Park Bar and Lounge are the same people behind Murphy's Riverside, a restaurant and bar on Main Street in Amesbury.

The address for this soon-to-open restaurant and bar in the Financial District of Boston is: Battery Park Bar and Lounge, 33 Batterymarch Street, Boston, MA, 02110. The phone number will be (617) 350-7275. And the website will be at: http://www.batteryparkboston.com/

[August 4 update: Based on a job posting on the Craigslist site, it looks like Battery Park Bar and Lounge should be open by early September at the latest.]

[September 30 update: A note sent to us from the Battery Park Bar and Lounge Facebook page indicates that the restaurant will have a soft opening tomorrow (Friday, October 1) and they are planning on a grand opening next week.]

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Thursday, January 14, 2010

Discussion Thread on Boston-Area Restaurants That People Miss

Just a quick note that the Facebook fan page for both Boston's Hidden Restaurants and Boston Restaurant Talk is starting to incorporate discussions into the page, with today's being a popular subject: Greatly missed Boston-area restaurants (focusing on places that have been closed for a substantial amount of time).

If you would like to join in on the discussion, please go to the link below:

Which Long-Gone Boston-Area Restaurants Do You Miss the Most?

There will be more discussions started within the Facebook page for the two sites, so keep checking back over the coming weeks. Thanks!

El Pollo Loco in Chelsea Has Closed

A restaurant in Chelsea that featured flamed-grilled chicken has apparently closed its doors for good. According to posters on the Chowhound site, El Pollo Loco on the Revere Beach Parkway is boarded up, and a poster on the Yelp site states that the restaurant closed sometime around January 1.

Part of a chain of approximately 400 quick-service restaurants, El Pollo Loco in Chelsea offered flame-grilled chicken as well as nachos, tacos, burritos, and other Mexican dishes. The restaurant first opened its doors on the Revere Beach Parkway in the spring of 2008.

Now that the Chelsea location has closed, the only other El Pollo Loco in New England is located in the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Southeastern Connecticut.

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Saus (Belgian Street Food) Opening in Boston

It appears that a dining spot specializing in Belgian street food is looking to open near Faneuil Hall in Boston. According to the WhereToEat.in blog, Saus will be opening on Union Street (just north and west of Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market) within two months or so and will be featuring Belgian street food.

[February 27, 2011 update: According to their Facebook page, Saus will be opening on Tuesday, March 1.]

The blog mentions that the cafe-style eatery will have a capacity of about 20 and that it will be offering such foods as liege waffles and pommes frites along with a variety of dipping sauces for both the waffles and the fries. (Based on an update from the Saus Twitter site, some possible sauces may include whipped honey mustard and green chile sauce, though it sounds like they are still in the experimental stage.)

The address for this new cafe in Boston is: Saus, 33 Union Street, Boston, MA, 02108.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Raffael's Restaurant Opening at the South Shore Country Club in Hingham

A restaurant and caterer with locations in Walpole and Hull will be opening another place in Hingham this spring. According to their Facebook page, Raffael's Restaurant will open at the South Shore Country Club, a public golf course and recreation facility on South Street a short distance southwest of the center of town. The Facebook page states that the new Raffael's will serve both lunch and dinner and will have two ballrooms and a pavilion for functions, banquets, and other events.

An article in the Hingham Journal and Wicked Local mentions that Raffael's signed a 10-year contract for the space within the South Shore Country Club, which is owned by the town of Hingham.

Raffael's, which first started out in Quincy in the late 1980s, features a mix of traditional American, New American, and Italian cuisine in an elegant yet casual environment. The two other locations for Raffael's can be found on Route 1A south of Walpole Center and at the Clarion Nantasket Hotel on Hull Shore Drive in Hull.

[April 6 update: According to their Facebook page, the new Raffael's in Hingham will be opening on Saturday, April 10.]

For more information on the opening of Raffael's Restaurant in Hingham, please go to the Hingham Journal/Wicked Local link below:

Raffael's is new caterer for Hingham's South Shore Country Club

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Bistro Chi and the Kama Lounge Open in Quincy

A restaurant and a lounge have moved into a Quincy Center spot that was recently vacated by another restaurant. According to the Fuji 1546 website, the owner of this Japanese eatery on Hancock Street has opened two new places in the old Jury Room space on Cottage Avenue (the Jury Room closed in October, 2009) called Bisro Chi and the Kama Lounge. The website shows Bistro Chi being a restaurant featuring Chinese cuisine, while the Kama Lounge looks to be focused on small plates and drinks.

Fuji 1546 has two other sister restaurants in Quincy--Beni Cafe, a small Japanese dining spot on Hancock Street in the North Quincy section of the city, and Shabu Restaurant, a hot pot place also on Hancock Street in North Quincy.

The address for these two new spots in Quincy Center is: Bistro Chi/Kama Lounge, 39 Cottage Avenue, Quincy, MA, 02169. The phone number for Bistro Chi is (617) 773-3000, while the phone number for the Kama Lounge is (617) 773-3002. Websites for both places can be accessed from the Fuji 1546 site (as can its other restaurants) at: http://www.fuji1546.com/

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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Dosa Factory Eyeing Second Location in Waltham

An Indian eatery in Cambridge that focuses on dosas is planning to open a second spot in Waltham. According to both Zagat and India New England, Dosa Factory will be coming to Moody Street in this western suburb of Boston with the likely opening date being sometime later this winter or in the spring. India New England mentions that unlike the original Dosa Factory on Mass. Ave. in Cambridge's Central Square (which shares its space with Shalimar India Food and Spices), the Waltham location will have a waitstaff as well as counter service. And as is the case with the Cambridge Dosa Factory, the new location in Waltham will also be sharing its space, as Pabla Sweet House will be residing in that spot as well.

[November 3 update: Based on an article--and a photo--from Wicked Local's Brand New Watch blog, the new Dosa Factory in Waltham appears to be getting ready to open, as the sign for the place is up and the storefront design looks like it has been completed. We will post another update as soon as we hear that it is officially open.]

[July 28, 2011 update: A sign in the window states that Dosa Factory is coming soon, but it is still not open.]

Dosa Factory opened in Cambridge in 2009, bringing to Central Square a dining spot that is centered around the concept of Southern Indian street food. Dosas, which are rice and lentil pancakes stuffed with various fillings, are the main feature of the Cambridge (and soon, Waltham) Dosa Factory, but the menu also includes other Indian dishes.

The address for the Cambridge Dosa Factory is: Dosa Factory, 571 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139. The address for the soon-to-open Dosa Factory in Waltham will be: Dosa Factory, 434 Moody Street, Waltham, MA, 02453.

For more information on the opening of Dosa Factory in Waltham, please go to the Zagat and India New England links below:

2010 Restaurant Preview

Area Sees Double Dosa Factory

Monday, January 11, 2010

Five Guys Burgers Is Opening in Natick

Yet another Five Guys Burgers is coming to the Greater Boston area. According to the restaurant chain's website, a new location will be coming to the 9/27 Shopping Center in Natick (at the intersection of Routes 9 and 27, about a mile east of the Natick Collection). The growing chain of burger places already has a number of restaurants in the area, including locations in Dedham, Foxborough, Gloucester, Marlborough, Randolph, Swampscott, and Walpole.

An exact opening date for the new Five Guys Burgers in Natick is not known at this time. We'll post updates here as we receive them. [June 23 update: Five Guys Burgers in Natick is now open.]

The address for this new burger place coming to the MetroWest area will be: Five Guys Burgers, 9/27 Shopping Center, 821 Worchester Road (Route 9), Natick, MA, 01760.

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for letting us know about Five Guys Burgers coming to Natick.

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Friday, January 08, 2010

Milestone Opens in Wellesley

A new restaurant has opened in Wellesley, replacing a family-friendly dining spot that closed awhile back. Milestone of Wellesley opened toward the end of December on Central Street in the center of town, moving into the spot where Vidalia's Truck Stop used to be until shutting down in 2008 after a little more than 10 years in business. Milestone has been serving only lunch during its first few days in business, but according to their website, the restaurant will be opening for dinner this month. Once dinner starts being served, Milestone will be open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner.

Milestone of Wellesley will be featuring Southern European cuisine, including such dishes as Tuscan mussels and beans, Portuguese clams, beef carpaccio, spinach gnocchi, chestnut fettuccine, chitarra sardines, seafood paella, butternut squash orzotto, lamb shank, poached halibut, and veal chop. Prices for dinner entrees will generally be in the teens and twenties.

The restaurant looks to be set up in a similar fashion to the old Vidalia's, with booths and tables as well as a counter/bar area with seating.

The address for this new dining spot in Wellesley Center is: Milestone of Wellesley, 13 Central Street, Wellesley, MA, 02482. The phone number is (781) 446-6950. And the website is at: http://milestoneofwellesley.com/

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Chef Chang's House in Brookline to Be Replaced by Sichuan Gourmet

A Chinese restaurant in Brookline that has been around for 30 years is closing--and being replaced by a new restaurant from the owner of a small chain of Chinese restaurants with locations in the northern and western suburbs of Boston.

According to a posting on the Massachusetts Public Notices site (now taken down), a liquor license transfer has been approved by the town of Brookline from the owner of Chef's Chang House on Beacon Street to Li Zhong, who is behind the two Sichuan Gourmet restaurants in Billerica and Framingham. The public notice mentions that the name of the restaurant that will apparently be replacing Chef Chang's House is also Sichuan Gourmet.

Chef Chang's House started out in the early 1980s, serving Mandarin, Shanghai, and Szechuan dishes to diners in Brookline, the Fenway neighborhood of Boston (which is a short distance east of the restaurant), and others from around the Boston area. Sichuan Gourmet first opened in Billerica in 2002, with a second location coming to Framingham a couple of years later.

It is unknown at the time as to when Chef Chang's House might be closing (and when Sichuan Gourmet might be opening). As we find out more information, we will post an update here. [January 27 update: According to an article in the Boston Globe, Chef Chang's House could be closing as soon as this coming Sunday, though there is no official closing date as of this time.]

[May 7 update: Based on a few posts on the Chowhound site, it looks like Sichuan Gourmet is now open in Brookline.]

The address for Chef Chang's House is 1004-1006 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02446. The phone number is (617) 277-4226. And their website can be found at: http://chefchangshouse.com/

The website for both Sichuan Gourmet restaurants is at: http://www.laosichuan.com/

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this to our attention.

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Thursday, January 07, 2010

The Battery in Brighton Has Apparently Closed

It appears that a fish and chips place in Brighton Center has closed down. The Battery, a tiny Washington Street restaurant that opened in the fall of 2008, now has a "for lease" sign in the window, according to posters on the Chowhound and Yelp sites. It was originally thought that The Battery was closed for renovations, but sometime around Christmas, the "for lease" sign apparently went up.

While The Battery featured fish and chips, the restaurant also offered salads, burgers, chicken sandwiches, battered sausage, potato pies, chicken wings, and a few other items.

The Battery was located at 379 Washington Street, a short distance west of the Market Street intersection in the center of Brighton.

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The Robinwood Cafe and Grille Opens in Jamaica Plain

A Jamaica Plain restaurant that we had talked about in an article last month has opened. According to a poster on the Chowhound site, the Robinwood Cafe and Grille opened this week, and a call put into the restaurant has confirmed that they are indeed open (the person we talked to said that yesterday was their first day of business).

The Robinwood Cafe and Grille, which moved into the spot on Centre Street where Planet Pizza was, appears to be a diner-style restaurant that will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As mentioned in the earlier article, the restaurant will feature such dishes as burgers, pizza, panini sandwiches, and pastries.

The address for this new restaurant in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston is: Robinwood Cafe and Grille, 536 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130. The phone number is (617) 524-7575.

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Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Parish Cafe Opens a New Spot in the South End

A popular sandwich place in the Back Bay of Boston has just opened a second location, this one being in the South End of the city. According to posters on the Chowhound site, the new Parish Cafe opened its Mass. Ave. location on New Year's Day, bringing to the South End a spot that features a variety of unique sandwiches as well as appetizers, salads, desserts, and a handful of comfort food entrees.

The original Parish Cafe opened on Boylston Street in the Back Bay in 1992 and has become known as a place to get sandwiches that have been designed by chefs from the local area, including Lydia Shire, Tony Maws, and Brian Poe.

Based on the menu posted on boston.menupages.com, prices for sandwiches at the new restaurant are mostly between $10 and $15, with entrees also being in the teens.

The address for this new dining spot in the South End is: Parish Cafe, 493 Massachusetts Avenue (at the corner of Tremont Street), Boston, MA, 02118. The phone number is (617) 391-0501.


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Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Fifth annual CityFeast Coming to the North End January 31, 2010

A culinary event is returning to Boston at the end of the month, and it is raising money for a very important cause. The fifth annual CityFeast will be held in the city's North End on Sunday, January 31, with six neighborhood restaurants participating in the event. Antico Forno, Lucca, Prezza, Taranta, Terramia, and Tresca will be offering a five-course dinner that includes wine pairings, with the proceeds going to the Joslin Diabetes Center's High Hopes Fund.

The High Hopes Fund was founded in order to help improve the lives of people with diabetes, as well as to support the Joslin Diabetes Center's mission to prevent and cure the disease.

The event will be held from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on January 31, with tickets costing $150 per person. [To purchase tickets, call Joslin's Development Office at (617) 732-2412 or (888) JOSLIN-2.] Billy Costa from TV Diner and KISS 108 FM will be making an appearance at the event.

Thanks to Bishoff Communications for giving us the above information on CityFeast.

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The New Nordstrom in Braintree to Include a Restaurant

Seattle-based department store Nordstrom will be opening in the South Shore Plaza in Braintree this coming spring, and with it, a new restaurant. According to a job posting on the Craigslist site, the fashion specialty retailer will be opening a dining spot within its store, and based on other Nordstrom outlets across the country, a specialty coffee bar may also open.

Nordstrom has a number of different restaurants within its stores, with some of the dining spots in the Northeast including Blue Stove, Cafe Bistro, Classic Cafe, and Marketplace Cafe (it is not currently known which, if any, of these might be coming to the new Braintree store).

The new Nordstrom in the South Shore Plaza will be moving into the space where Jordan Marsh and Macy's used to be (Macy's has since moved to the spot where Filene's was).

According to the Nordstrom website, the tentative opening date for the new store in Braintree is March 26, 2010.

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Monday, January 04, 2010

The Seaport Bar and Grille on the Waterfront Has Closed

A waterfront restaurant and bar in Boston's Seaport District with sweeping views of the city and several dining and bar areas has closed its doors. According to its Facebook page, the Seaport Bar and Grille served its last meal on New Year's Eve after being in business on Northern Avenue since the 1980s. And as reported here earlier, a new dining spot and watering hole called The Whiskey Priest looks to take over the spot vacated by the restaurant.

The Seaport Bar and Grille, which featured mostly American fare, pub grub, and seafood, shared its harborside building with the Atlantic Beer Garden, which, according to Grub Street Boston and several other sources, owns the Seaport space and is behind the future opening of The Whiskey Priest. Formerly called The Water View, The Seaport Bar and Grille featured an outdoor deck with a spectacular view of Boston Harbor as well as the city skyline.

As we find out more information on The Whiskey Priest (menu, opening day, etc.), we will post an update here.

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The Daily Catch to Re-Open in Brookline on January 7

A seafood restaurant between the Coolidge Corner section of Brookline and the Allston border that closed several years back is going to be re-opening later this week. According to BostonTweet.com, The Daily Catch will open its doors once again on Harvard Street on Thursday, January 7, with a grand opening party from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This will be the third location of The Daily Catch in the Boston area, with the other two being on Hanover Street in the North End (the original, which opened in 1973) and Fan Pier along the Waterfront in Boston's Seaport District.

The Daily Catch features Sicilian-style seafood and pasta dishes, including fried calamari, cherrystones, monkfish marsala, lobster fra diavolo, linguine and clams, and black pasta.

The address for the soon-to-open restaurant just north of Coolidge Corner will be: The Daily Catch, 441 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA.

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