b.good Expanding in Boston

A small local chain of burger places is opening at least one more location in Boston over the coming weeks, and another one may be in the works for the downtown area.

According to BostonTweet and several other sources, b.good is moving into the space on Mass. Ave. in the Back Bay where Boloco was (Boloco has moved to a new spot on nearby Boylston Street). It appears that the new b.good may open sometime in March.

Another b.good may also be in the works for downtown Boston, though nothing has been confirmed yet. According to the b.good Twitter page, a new location on Washington Street in the Downtown Crossing area is apparently being looked at, as a note indicates that they are trying to get a lease on a space there. [May 11 update: According to their Twitter page, b.good will indeed be opening in downtown Boston--at 255 Washington Street toward the northern edge of Downtown Crossing--sometime this summer.]

b.good currently has five other locations in the Boston area, including two in the Back Bay (Newbury Street and Dartmouth Street), one in Brookline (Harvard Street), one in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge (Dunster Street), and one at Legacy Place in Dedham.

The address for the soon-to-open b.good in the Back Bay will be: b.good, 137 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA, 02115. The website for the b.good chain is at: http://www.bgood.com/

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

The Gallows to Open in the South End

A new restaurant and pub is coming to the South End of Boston, moving into the space where an Italian restaurant used to be. According to Grub Street Boston, The Gallows will be opening in the Washington Street spot formerly occupied by Sage, which moved from the North End to the South End in the spring of 2007, only to close last fall.

The Gallows looks to be a local neighborhood eatery and watering hole, with an apparent emphasis on American fare and comfort food, as well as several beers on tap and a cask ale, according to Grub Street. Prices for entrees look to top out just above $20.

The folks behind The Gallows have been involved with a couple of Boston-area dining spots--The Biltmore, which is a gastropub-style restaurant in Newton Upper Falls, and Vee Vee, an eclectic New American bistro in Jamaica Plain.

Grub Street mentions that The Gallows hopes to open sometime this spring. [June 5 update: Last night (Friday, June 4) was the first official night for The Gallows. The restaurant will be closed this Sunday and Monday, and then will open back up on Tuesday.]

The address for this restaurant and bar is: The Gallows, 1395 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

For more information on the opening of The Gallows, please go to the Grub Street Boston link below.

The Gallows Wants to Be Your New Hangout

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Clover Is Opening in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A food truck serving vegetarian fare that is located at MIT in Cambridge may soon be opening an actual restaurant in Harvard Square. According to the Massachusetts Public Notices site, Clover Food Lab is looking to open a quick-serve restaurant at 7 Holyoke Street in the heart of the square (where the Harvard University Housing Office used to be). The notice mentions that the CEO of Clover wishes to have a "fast order food establishment" in this space. And according to a poster on the Chowhound site, signs are in the windows at this spot stating that a public hearing is on the way to decide if Clover will indeed be moving in.

[October 14 update: Everything has been approved for Clover's moving into the Holyoke Street spot. An article in The Harvard Crimson mentions that the new restaurant may be opening in early November.]

[November 1 update: According to The Examiner, the new Clover Food Lab restaurant in Harvard Square is now open.]

Clover Food Lab opened their food truck at Carleton Street by MIT in the fall of 2008, featuring a variety of freshly-made vegetarian dishes at reasonable prices. According to an old Boston Globe article, the owner of Clover hopes to have a chain of brick-and-mortar restaurants at some point in the future.

The website for Clover Food Lab can be found at: http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/

Tweet This!

Taste of the South End 2010 Coming to Boston on March 9

A culinary event that helps raise money for the AIDS Action Committee is coming to Boston once again in early March. Taste of the South End 2010 will be held Tuesday, March 9, at the Boston Center for the Arts on Tremont Street, with 45 restaurants participating this year.

Guests of Taste of the South End will be able to sample dishes from area restaurants, view live cooking demonstrations, participate in beer and wine tastings, and take part in a silent auction and raffle. Some of the restaurants participating in the event include Avila, Gaslight, Joe V's, Pops, Rocca, Toro, and Turner Fisheries.

General admission tickets for Taste of the South End are $95, while VIP tickets are $150. Hours are 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM (VIP guests can enter at 6:00 PM).

For more information on Taste of the South End 2010, please go to the link below.

http://www.aac.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Events_Taste_About

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Latest Review: Chow Thai Cafe, Charlestown

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Thai restaurant in the Charlestown section of Boston called Chow Thai Cafe. Located on the western end of Main Street, Chow Thai Cafe is a bit off the beaten path, several blocks west of the main dining and shopping section of Charlestown. Chow Thai Cafe is a warm, cozy spot that leans more toward more familiar Thai and Thai-American fare, but there are also traditional dishes on the menu. To read more about Chow Thai Cafe in Charlestown, please click on the link above.

Twitters Bar and Grill Opening in Saugus

A family-friendly restaurant is coming to Saugus, though not without some controversy. According to the Saugus Advertiser and Wicked Local, Twitters Bar & Grill is going to be opening at the Square One Mall on Route 1, in the space where the Iron Works Grill and Tavern used to be. The restaurant will have nearly 6,000 square feet of space and a capacity of 165 as well as a bar with seating for 12, according to the article.

The Saugus Advertiser/Wicked Local article mentions that a sticking point arose with the restaurant manager's request that Twitters Bar & Grill be able to stay open until 2:00 AM. Both town meeting members and neighbors of the Square One Mall were troubled by the late closing, in part because of public safety issues. The town selectmen ended up voting on Twitters Bar & Grill being allowed to stay open until midnight, with last call being at 11:30 PM.

Based on a job posting on the Craigslist site, Twitters Bar & Grill is planning on opening sometime in March. [March 22 update: According to a new job posting on Craigslist, Twitters will be opening on Wednesday, March 24.]

The address for this soon-to-open restaurant in Saugus will be: Twitters Bar & Grill, 1201 Broadway (Square One Mall), Saugus, MA, 01906.

To read more on the pending opening of Twitters Bar & Grill, please go to the Saugus Advertiser/Wicked Local link below.

Full liquor restaurant coming to Square One

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Chefs Cooking for Hope to Be Held March 4, 2010

A charity event that raises money to help fight cancer is returning to Boston next month. The 12th annual Chefs Cooking for Hope, which is being presented by the Friends of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will be held in the Financial District of Boston on Thursday, March 4, with 50 restaurants and caterers participating. A few of the restaurants involved include Henrietta's Table in Cambridge, La Morra in Brookline, Mistral in the South End, Taranta in the North End, Gargoyles on the Square in Somerville, and Olives in Charlestown.

According to the Dana-Farber website, Jody Adams of Rialto in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge and Jeff Fournier of 51 Lincoln in Newton Highlands will be the honorary chefs.

the Chefs Cooking for Hope event will take place from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at 125 High Street in Boston. For more information, please go to the Dana-Farber link below:

Friends of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute presents Chefs Cooking for Hope

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Yard House Opening at Legacy Place in Dedham

Yet another restaurant is making its way to a new shopping, dining, and entertainment complex in Dedham, with this one being part of a small chain of restaurants that is mostly found in the southwestern part of the United States. The Yard House, an upscale but casual dining spot known in part for its extensive beer list, is going to be opening at Legacy Place in March, joining such restaurants as Aquitaine, b. good, Legal C Bar, P.F. Chang's, and others that have made this massive open-air center their home. This will be the first Yard House to open in New England.

The Yard House features an eclectic mix of Asian and American fare, including such dishes as a walnut pear salad, tomato bisque, grilled Korean BBQ beef, seared ahi sashimi, bernaise sliders, a blue crab cake hoagie, a spicy Thai chicken pizza, porcini-crusted halibut, roasted turkey pot pie, and New Zealand lamb chops. According to a Boston Globe article, The Yard House will have a keg room within the restaurant and the bar will have 130 beers available on tap.

The Boston Globe mentions that the grand opening for The Yard House in Dedham will be March 14, with a soft opening scheduled for March 12 and 13.

The address for this new restaurant at Legacy Place is: Yard House, 950 Providence Highway (Legacy Place), Dedham, MA, 02026. The website for the restaurant chain is at: http://www.yardhouse.com/

For more information on the opening of The Yard House, please go to the Boston Globe link below.

Yard House to open at Legacy Place

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Let's Go Burrito Opening in Cummings Park, Woburn

A new quick-food Mexican restaurant is coming to the northern suburbs of Boston, and the folks behind it also run two other restaurants in the area. According to The Woburn Advocate, Wicked Local, and notes from a City Council meeting on the City of Woburn website, Let's Go Burrito is going to be opening at Cummings Park near Routes 128 and 93 in the northern part of Woburn.

Let's Go Burrito will be moving into the space where Lo Fat Know Fat used to be until closing back in 2008, though it looks like the new restaurant may take up only half of the space of the now-closed eatery, according to the City Council notes. The notes also mention that Let's Go Burrito will be a fast food-take out place that focuses on burritos and salads. According to the Woburn Advocate/Wicked Local article, the restaurant will be open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner, with hours being from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

The two people who are opening Let's Go Burrito also own Ixtapa Cantina Mexican Restaurant in Woburn and Lunenberg, according to the City Council notes.

The newspaper article indicates that Let's Go Burrito is hoping to open in February; we will post an update on a specific opening date as soon as we find out. [March 5 update: Let's Go Burrito is now open.]

The address for this new Mexican dining spot coming to Woburn is: Let's Go Burrito, 340 West Cummings Park, Woburn, MA, 01801. Their phone number is (339) 298-2071. And their website is at: http://www.letsgoburrito.net/

The link to the Woburn Advocate/Wicked Local article can be found below.

Mexican restaurant opening soon

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Casting Call for The Opener, a New Food Network Show

A new Food Network show called The Opener is currently in pre-production, and the people behind the show are getting ready to do some casting for it.

The Opener will be a documentary series in which Chef David Adjey (of Iron Chef and Restaurant Makeover) looks to help first-time restaurant owners open their dream dining spot. And according to an email sent to us, it can be nearly any kind of eatery, from a high-end spot to a casual place. First-time owners who are opening new restaurants between April and December of 2010 are welcome to contact the folks behind the show, and they did mention in an email that they are interested in featuring a Boston opening.

If you think you may be interested in a casting call for The Opener, contact Frantic Films via email at: theopener @ franticfilms.com

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

El Pelon Taqueria to Open Across from Boston College

A beloved Mexican restaurant in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston that was hit by two fires over the past few years is going to re-open, but in a new spot in another section of the city. According to BostonTweet, El Pelon Taqueria is going to be opening across from Boston College in Brighton sometime in March. In a text message sent to us via http://twitter.com/BostonTweet, we were told that this has been confirmed by the owner of the restaurant.

El Pelon Taqueria had been located on Peterborough Street just south of Fenway Park for a number of years, but it was damaged in a fire in December, 2007, then destroyed in a devastating blaze in January, 2009, that gutted several other restaurants, including Greek Isles, Rod Dee, Sorento's, Thornton's, and Umi. There had been talk late last summer that El Pelon may reopen somewhere around Washington Square in Brookline, but that apparently fell through.

When we receive more information on an exact address for the new El Pelon Taqueria in Brighton, as well as an exact opening date, we will post an update here.

[February 24 update: According to Grub Street Boston, the address for the new El Pelon Taqueria in Brighton will be 2197 Commonwealth Avenue (which is the former home of the College Sub Shop by the Lake Street intersection). Grub Street also mentions that El Pelon Taqueria is planning on returning to Peterborough Street in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston as well, with construction possibly beginning soon.]

[February 25 update: An email sent to us by Bayleaf Communications, Inc. states that El Pelon Taqueria is planning on opening in Brighton on March 15. The email also mentions that the Peterborough Street location of El Pelon in the Fenway neighborhood will indeed reopen, but not for at least another year.]

[March 18 update: According to their Twitter page, El Pelon Taqueria may be opening tomorrow (Friday, March 19).]

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Yak and Yeti Opening in Ball Square, Somerville

A new Nepali restaurant is coming to the Ball Square neighborhood of Somerville, moving into the space where a Chinese restaurant used to be. Yak & Yeti will be opening on Broadway in the heart of the square, taking over the spot where Golden Jade was until closing a little more than a year ago.

Once open, Yak & Yeti will join a handful of other Nepali dining spots in the Boston area, including Kathmandu Spice in Arlington, Himalayan Bistro in West Roxbury, and Mt. Everest Kitchen in Allston.

[May 24 update: According to posters on both Chowhound and the Somerville Journal blog, Yak and Yeti is now open.]

The address for this upcoming Nepali restaurant in Ball Square is: Yak & Yeti, 719 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144.

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

The First Boston Restaurant Week of 2010 to Start March 14

Boston Restaurant Week is on the way once again, with the winter version coming to the area in March. Hosted by the Greater Boston Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the 2010 Winter Restaurant Week in Boston will have area restaurants offering prix-fixe two-course lunches for $15.10 and three-course lunches for $20.10, while three-course fixed-price dinners will be $33.10. The event will be held from Sunday, March 14 to Friday, March 19, and again from Sunday, March 21 to Friday, March 26.

A few of the restaurants participating in Boston Restaurant Week this time around include Bacco in the North End, the Beacon Hill Bistro in Beacon Hill, Ciao Bella in the Back Bay, Durgin Park in Faneuil Hall, Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square, Ecco in East Boston, the Fireplace in Brookline, the Freeport Tavern in Dorchester, Mela in the South End, Sagra in Somerville, Solea in Waltham, T.W. Food in Cambridge, Tryst in Arlington, and many more.

For more information on the 2010 Winter Restaurant Week in Boston, including a complete list of which restaurants will be participating, please go to the link below:

http://www.restaurantweekboston.com/

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Viva Mexican Grill and Tequileria Opens in Wayland

A new Mexican restaurant has come to the western suburbs of Boston, and the person behind the place is the owner of another Mexican spot closer to Boston. According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Viva Mexican Grill and Tequileria recently opened in the Cochituate neighborhood of Wayland, in the space on East Plain Street where Morn's Thai Restaurant used to be. The owner of Viva is also the owner of Jose's Mexican restaurant, an eatery on Sherman Street in Cambridge that has been around for a number of years.

The menu at Viva Mexican Grill and Tequileria features a mix of Mexican-American and traditional Mexican fare, including burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas, enchiladas, tostadas, flautas, fajitas, tacos, and tamales. A few of the more interesting-sounding entrees include an oven-steamed tilapia with shrimp, onions, tomatoes, and epazote; lamb seasoned with guajillo and pasilla peppers and wrapped in banana leaves; and roasted and grilled cactus roasted in chipotle sauce.

The address for this Mexican dining spot in Cochituate is: Viva Mexican Grill and Tequileria, 15 East Plain Street, Wayland, MA, 01778. The phone number is (508) 651-3300. And the website is at: http://vivamexicangrill.com/wordpress/

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Scoozi Opening on Commonwealth Avenue Near Kenmore Square

A gourmet pizzeria and sandwich bar that has been in existence on Newbury Street for nearly ten years is apparently opening a new restaurant just outside of Kenmore Square. According to the EveryBlock Boston site, Scoozi received a license to operate a restaurant at 580 Commonwealth Avenue, which is a short distance west of Kenmore, and the blogger Good Cook Doris mentioned today that there is a sign at this spot stating that Scoozi is on the way. The space that Scoozi is moving into is where Z Square used to be until they closed a little over a year ago.

The Newbury Street Scoozi, which first opened in 2001, features thin-crust pizza and a variety of panini options, as well as salads and calzones. Their dinner menu also has a number of more substantial entrees with an emphasis on Italian fare, including such dishes as risotto, veal scaloppine, mussels marinara, and shrimp and scallops limoncello.

[April 8 update: According to Good Cook Doris, the new Scoozi near Kenmore Square is now open.]

The address for the new Scoozi is: Scoozi, 580 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. the website for Scoozi on Newbury Street is at: http://www.scooziboston.com/

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Formosa Taipei Opens in Lexington

A small restaurant featuring Taipei street food has opened in Lexington, replacing a Chinese bun shop that closed earlier this winter after only a short time in business. According to the restaurant's website, Formosa Taipei has moved into the space on Marrett Road (by the Waltham Street intersection) where Denian's had been since the spring of 2009. Formosa Taipei will focus on authentic Taipei fare as well as more familiar Chinese cuisine.

The menu at Formosa Taipei includes such Taiwanese items as oyster pan cake, sticky rice in bamboo, Taiwanese sausage, boiled intestine, and braised pork with a steamed bun. Also included are Chinese-American items such as crab rangoon, sesame beef, kung pao shrimp, lo mein, and General Tsao's chicken. A weekend dim sum section of the menu includes a number of traditional Taiwanese dishes.

Formosa Taipei, which appears to be mainly a takeout spot, is open seven days a week. Their hours are Monday to Friday from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM. (Weekend dim sum hours are 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM.)

The address for this new restaurant in Lexington is: Formosa Taipei, 315 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA, 02421. The phone number is (781) 862-6198. And the website is at: http://formosa-taipei.com/

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

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Bergamot Opening in the Old EVOO Space in Somerville

EVOO may have left Somerville (for Kendall Square in Cambridge), but it looks like a new restaurant may soon be moving into their old spot. According to the Boston Globe, Bergamot is planning to open in the Beacon Street space, possibly by the middle of March, bringing another contemporary American restaurant to this spot near the Cambridge border. [March 30 update: According to Grub Street Boston, Bergamot is planning on opening Friday, April 2.]

Bergamot's website indicates that the restaurant will be feature progressive American cuisine in a friendly neighborhood setting, while the Globe article mentions that prices for entrees will be mostly in the twenties. The Globe gives a few examples of dishes at Bergamot, including poached cod and slow-cooked lamb shoulder.

The address for this new restaurant coming to Somerville will be: Bergamot, 118 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Their website is at: http://bergamotrestaurant.com/

EVOO's new address will be 350 Third Street in the Kendall Square section of Cambridge. According to their website, they hope to open by the end of February. [March 30 update: EVOO is now open in their new Cambridge location.]

To read more about the planned opening of Bergamot in Somerville, please go to the Boston Globe link below.

News: Bergamot, American Craft, Ashmont Grill

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

The Halfway Cafe Opening in Maynard

A new location of a local restaurant chain is coming to Eastern Massachusetts, with this one opening west of Boston. According to an email from Callanan & Klein Communications, the Halfway Cafe is going to open a new restaurant in Maynard, moving into the spot on Main Street in the center of town that was formerly home to 51 Main Bar and Grill. It looks like the new Halfway Cafe could be open by mid-March 2010, based on the information given in the email. [April 13 update: According to an email from Callanan & Klein Communications, the new Halfway Cafe in Maynard will have their grand opening on Monday, April 19.]

The Halfway Cafe is a local family-friendly chain of neighborhood restaurants serving mostly traditional American fare and pub grub. They presently have locations in Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Marlborough, Marshfield, and Watertown.

Once they open, the address for the new Halfway Cafe in Maynard will be: The Halfway Cafe, 51 Main Street, Maynard, MA, 01754. The website for the restaurant chain is at: www.thehalfwaycafe.com

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Chez Jacky Opening in Brighton This Spring

A casual French bistro will be opening in Brighton this spring, replacing a Mexican restaurant that has been in its present spot for about four years. According to the Boston Globe, Chez Jacky is going to open on Commonwealth Avenue, possibly in April, moving into the space where Zocalo has been (there is another Zocalo on Broadway in Arlington). The people opening Chez Jacky are also behind Petit Robert Bistro, which has locations in the South End of Boston, Kenmore Square, and Needham.

The Globe mentions that Chez Jacky will be a reasonably-priced family-style dining spot with a number of craft beers offered. Outdoor dining will be an option once the warm weather arrives, according to the article. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner.

The address for this French bistro in Brighton is: Chez Jacky, 1414 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton, MA, 02135.

Thanks to MC Slim JB, who first brought this to our attention on the Chowhound site.

[June 11 update: According to their Facebook page, Chez Jacky is having their official opening today.]

For more on the opening of Chez Jacky, please go to the Boston Globe link below.

Chez Jacky to open in Brighton

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Dunkin' Donuts Turns 60; Celebration Planned in Copley Square Today

Dunkin' Donuts turns 60 this year, and it will be marking its birthday with a celebration in the Back Bay of Boston today (Thursday, February 18).

According to the Boston Globe, the Canton-based coffee and doughnut chain will feature a variety of events from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Copley Square, including karaoke, face painting, pinatas, visits by local celebrities, free samples of coffee, and the handing out of Dunkin’ Donuts Cards. The event is free and open to the public.

Dunkin' Donuts was founded in 1950 in Quincy, MA, and has since grown to be the world's largest coffee and baked goods chain, serving more than 3 million customers each day.

For more on the Dunkin' Donuts birthday celebration in Copley Square, please go to the Boston Globe link below.

Dunkin' birthday fete features $60k of freebies

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese Is Coming to Boston

Bostonians who love grilled cheese sandwiches may have something to look forward to, as it appears that a food truck featuring gourmet grilled cheese may be coming to the city. According to their Twitter page, Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese is expecting to be opening sometime this summer, serving contemporary versions of this popular sandwich.

Based on various Twitter messages we have read, it appears that Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese is hoping to be a food truck that goes to different places around Bobston, though it may end up being in one spot, depending on what they are able to receive for permits.

[November 18 update: According to the Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese Facebook page, the new food truck looks like it is getting ready to open, with a permanent location in Brighton's Cleveland Circle (at Beacon Street and Chestnut Hill Avenue).]

[March 3, 2011 update: According to their Facebook page, Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese opens today at 5:00 PM.]

If you would like to follow Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese, please go to their Twitter page at http://twitter.com/roxysgrilledchz or their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/roxysgrilledcheese

Thanks to one of our Twitter followers for bringing Roxy's to our attention.

Tweet This!

Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown Is Opening Deluxe Station Diner in Newton

It looks like a popular Watertown diner is opening a second restaurant in Newton.

According to the Newton TAB and Wicked Local, the people behind the Deluxe Town Diner on Mt. Auburn Street in the Coolidge Square section of East Watertown are looking to open another diner in the space on Union Street in Newton Centre where Starbucks used to be. The article mentions that the Newton Board of Aldermen still has to approve the proposal, with a waiver of a parking space requirement being needed (a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 9).

The Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown has been in existence in its present state for about ten years. Their menu features all kinds of classic American dishes, including flapjacks, jo'nny cakes, challah French toast, meat loaf, franks and beans, country-fried steak, chicken pot pie, and macaroni and cheese.

[May 25 update: According to boston.com, the owners of the Deluxe Town Diner took a big step toward opening a new satellite diner in Newton Centre, signing a lease for the old Starbucks space last week. The article goes on to say that the owners of the diner are looking to have the new restaurant open by the fall, and that they are also hoping to be able to serve alcohol and may try to have a pickup window within the place. The address for the upcoming diner will be 70 Union Street in Newton (by the Newton Centre MBTA station).]

[July 14 update: According to a poster on Chowhound, it looks like the new place in Newton Centre will be called the Deluxe Station Diner.]

[January 6, 2011, update: According to Grub Street Boston, Deluxe Station Diner in Newton Centre soft-opens today.]

For more information on the opening of the Deluxe Station Diner in Newton Centre, please go to the Newton TAB/Wicked Local link below.

Watertown diner may be coming to Newton Centre

Tweet This!

Agave Mexican Grille and Tequila Bar Opening in Malden

A Mexican restaurant will soon be opening in Malden, moving into the space where a Chinese eatery used to be. According to a job posting on the Craigslist site, Agave Mexican Grille and Tequila Bar will open on Medford Street (southwest of the downtown area), replacing the Beansprout Restaurant, which closed in late 2009 after being in business for about 30 years.

The job posting on Craigslist mentions that Agave will have a capacity of about 180, and it appears that the menu will include both traditional Mexican and Mexican-American fare. A Mid-March opening is planned.

[April 15 update: An email from the restaurant indicates that Agave is now open.]

The address for this Mexican restaurant in Malden is: Agave Mexican Grille and Tequila Bar, 270 Medford Street, Malden, MA, 02148.

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

J'Way Cafe Opens in Jamaica Plain

A Southern-style dining spot has opened in a rather unusual space in Jamaica Plain. According to the website of Jamaicaway Books & Gifts on Centre Street in the heart of this Boston neighborhood, J'Way Cafe has opened downstairs from the store, featuring an eclectic mix of soul food, Creole, and Cajun fare, as well as other Southern dishes. The menu at J'Way Cafe includes chili, gumbo, jambalaya, sandwiches (pulled pork, Jamaican jerk chicken, catfish, and more), beans and rice, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, and tea cakes. Prices for menu items are well under $10.

[August 12 update: Hours for J'Way Cafe had initially been a bit limited, but have now expanded to the following: Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.]

The address for this new Southern-style dining spot in Jamaica Plain is: J'Way Cafe, 676 Centre Street (downstairs), Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130. The phone number for the store is (617) 983-3204. And the web page for the cafe is: http://jamaicawaybooks.com/jway-cafe/

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

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Roadhouse Restaurant in Brookline Closes, to be Replaced by American Craft

A Southern-style in Brookline has closed its doors, with the owner of the restaurant opening a new dining spot in its place, possibly as early as later this month. According to the Brookline TAB and Wicked Local, the Roadhouse Restaurant on Beacon Street near Washington Square shut down this past weekend after being in business for a little more than a year and a half. The restaurant, which is also run by the same person behind the nearby Publick House, will be turned into a new spot called American Craft, which looks like it will feature inventive American cuisine. The article mentions that American Craft may be open by next Monday (February 22). [February 23 update: A message sent to us by the restaurant states that American Craft will open tomorrow--Wednesday, February 24--at 5:00 PM.]

According to the Brookline TAB and Wicked Local, the Roadhouse Restaurant has offered diners traditional barbecue dishes since first opening in the fall of 2008, but took a major hit about a half year later when the dining spot decided to stop using its smokers after neighbors complained about the smells coming from it. The shutting down of the smoker forced the Roadhouse Restaurant to revamp its menu, moving away from traditional BBQ and moving toward Creole and Mexican cuisine.

A menu on the beeradvocate.com site indicates that the menu at American Craft will include a mix of upscale American and comfort food dishes such as fried cornmeal crusted oysters, pulled duck hash, chicken wings, tomato soup, burgers, an open-faced turkey sandwich, oven-roasted trout, cheese rigatoni, and braised short ribs. American Craft will also offer a number of artisan beers.

The address for the soon-to-open American Craft will be: American Craft, 1700 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446.

For more information on the closing of the Roadhouse Restaurant and the opening of American Craft, please go to the Brookline TAB/Wicked Local and beeradvocate.com links below.

[Brookline TAB/Wicked Local]
Owner: Brookline's Roadhouse 'had to go'

[beeradvocate.com]
American Craft - Artisanal Food & Drink - to Open in Brookline, MA

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Results of Twitter Pizza Poll

The informal pizza poll that we had on Twitter this week is now closed, and we have the results. Based on those who voted, the top places for pizza in the Boston area are:

1) Santarpio's, East Boston (11%)
2) Pizzeria Regina, North End (8%)
3) Ernesto's, North End (5%)
3) Picco, South End (5%)
3) City Slicker Cafe, Somerville (5%)
3) Upper Crust Pizzeria, various locations (5%)

Many other places were also mentioned in the poll, including Armando's (Cambridge), BHOP (Boston), Big Daddy's (Brighton), Bravo (Allston), Cambridge 1 (Cambridge), CBS Scene (Foxborough), Dedham House of Pizza (Dedham), DeVille Lounge (Back Bay), Emilio's (South End), Gran Gusto (Cambridge), Halftime Pizza (Boston), Hi-Fi Pizza (Cambridge), Hot Tomatoes (North End), Mandee's (Salem), New Brown Jug (Chelsea), Peace o' Pie (Allston), Pinocchio's (Cambridge), Real Deal (West Roxbury), Stella (Watertown), Woody's (Boston), and Zing (Cambridge).

Thanks to everyone for participating in the Twitter pizza poll. We will have more polls going on soon, so keep checking back with us either here or at http://twitter.com/hiddenboston.

Anthem Returning to Boston, Reopening in Faneuil Hall

A contemporary American restaurant that closed its doors near North Station in Boston more than two years ago is returning to the city, opening in a space a short distance away from the old spot. According to the Boston Herald, Anthem is looking to open in Faneuil Hall, with the plan being to move into the South Market Building space where Plaza III Kansas City Steakhouse had been since the late 1990s. The Herald article mentions that Anthem could be open by May, and that the menu looks like it will be slightly different from the old menu, but will continue to feature a mix of comfort food and regional dishes. [April 23 update: According to their Facebook page, Anthem is now open.]

Anthem closed its Portland Street location in the late summer/early fall of 2007 after being in business for about four years, being replaced by Johnnies on the Side (which has since been renamed West End Johnnies).

The address for the new location of Anthem will be: Anthem, 101 South Market Street (Faneuil Hall), Boston, MA, 02109.

For more information on the planned reopening of Anthem, please go to the Boston Herald link below:

Faneuil Hall to get its own Anthem

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.

Michael Schlow Picked As 2010 Chef of the Year

The Massachusetts Restaurant Association has made their "best of" picks for 2010, with chef Michael Schlow being picked as Chef of the Year. An email sent to us by The Brooks Group mentioned that the executive chef and co-owner of Radius and Via Matta in Boston and Alta Strada in Wellesley will be honored at the MRA's annual awards dinner on Monday, March 15th. The dinner is being held at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel on Congress Street in Boston.

The Brooks Group website mentions that Michael Schlow, who moved to Boston from New York City about 15 years ago, has received a number of awards and accolades in the past, including the James Beard Award of Excellence.

For more information on the Massachusetts Restaurant Association awards dinner, please go to the following link:

http://www.marestaurantassoc.org/AnnualAwardsDinner10.html

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.