Boston Restaurant Talk: February 2015

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Taste of the South End to Be Held March 3, 2015

An event that helps raise funds for the largest AIDS service organization in New England is returning to Boston in early March.

According to a press release, Taste of the South End will be held on Tuesday, March 5 at The Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts on Tremont Street from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM (6:00 PM for VIP), with more than 40 local restaurants participating. This year, the event will include food samplings along with complimentary beer and wine, cooking demos, a silent auction, raffle, and a Mystery Box game. A few of the dining and drinking spots that will be at Taste of the South End include Aquitaine, The Beehive, Davio's, Flour, Haley House, Myers + Chang, South End Buttery, Tremont 647, and many others.

Tickets to the 2015 Taste of the South End cost $100 ($150 for VIP tickets), with proceeds supporting the AIDS Action Committee. For more information on the event, please go to the link below:

Taste of the South End

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Firehouse Subs in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

It looks like a Florida-based chain of sandwich shops has closed its only location in Boston proper, though the other shops in the area apparently remain in operation.

According to a Twitter post, Firehouse Subs in the Back Bay is shuttered, with the windows of the Boylston Street shop being papered over. A check on the chain's website seems to indicate that this is a permanent closure, as the location has been removed from the site; it does appear, however, that locations of the eatery in Danvers and Woburn remain open, as does its shop in Nashua, NH.

Firehouse Subs first opened in Boston in September of 2012 as part of a planned expansion that--at the time--was going to possibly include 69 locations in the Boston area alone.

The address for this now-closed sandwich shop in the Back Bay was: Firehouse Subs, 545 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.firehousesubs.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Highlights for the Week Ending February 20, 2015

A few more stories and articles centering on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including personnel changes taking place at a popular Downtown Crossing restaurant, a downtown location of a burger spot closing, and a French restaurant in Kenmore Square being replaced by another French place. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included a new review of an Italian restaurant in Wakefield, a photo of an appetizer from a roadhouse in Dedham, and an updated review of a breakfast spot in Dorchester.

Below are links to these and other items from the past week:

Boston Restaurant Talk

Changes Afoot at jm Curley in Boston

Grillo's Pickles Closing Its Brick-and-Mortar Shop in Cambridge's Inman Square

UBurger in Downtown Boston Has Closed Due to a "Business Dispute"

A and B Salem Is Looking to Move to Beverly

Petit Robert Bistro in Boston's Kenmore Square to Be Replaced by Josephine

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

New Review: Massimo's Ristorante in Wakefield, MA

New Photo: Nachos from The Village Manor in Dedham, MA

Restaurant Closings and Openings for February, 2015 (So Far)

New Photo: Pad Thai from Patou Thai in Belmont, MA

Updated Review: McKenna's Cafe in Dorchester, MA

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

True Food Kitchen Is Coming to Boston

An Arizona-based restaurant group is going to be bringing one of its eateries to Boston, and it looks to be a spot that focuses on healthy options.

Eater Boston is reporting that Fox Restaurant Concepts is planning to open True Food Kitchen somewhere in the city, with an opening slated for 2016. Once it does open, expect to see a mix of vegetarian, meat-based, and gluten-free items with the focus being on anti-inflammatory and minimally-processed foods. A few dishes on the menu at True Food Kitchen could include miso soup, herbed hummus, seared scallops, red chili shrimp, panang curry, turkey lasagna, spaghetti squash casserole, and bison burgers.

Currently, a handful of True Food Kitchen locations can be found mainly in the South and in the West, with the closest one to Boston being in Fairfax, VA. Other brands from Fox Restaurant Concepts include Wildflower American Cuisine, The Greene House, Blanco Tacos + Tequila, and several others.

The website for True Food Kitchen is at http://www.truefoodkitchen.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Forum in Boston's Back Bay Is Closing

A Back Bay restaurant that temporarily closed due to heavy damage it sustained in the Boston Marathon bombings a couple of years ago is going to be closing for good.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Forum on Boylston Street is shutting its doors on March 1 after being in business for approximately 3 1/2 years. The article mentions according to the restaurant, its closing is due to a "rent issue," as the landlord reportedly boosted the rent this year by almost three times the current rate. Other dining and drinking spots from the group behind Forum (Boston Nightlife Ventures) will remain in operation, including such places as Griddler's, The Tap Trailhouse, and Wink & Nod.

[February 25 update: A new article in The Boston Globe indicates that while Boston Nightlife Ventures president Euz Azevedo says (via a statement) that the rent is being raised by nearly three times its current rate, Paul Roiff--who is the landlord of the space--claims that this is "inaccurate," with the rent going up by "less than double" the present rate come this November. Roiff also states in the article that the restaurant was given notice about the upcoming rent changes before it even opened in 2011.]

Forum sustained major damage from the Marathon bombings in April of 2013 and remained closed for repairs and renovations for about four months.

The address for this soon-to-close restaurant in the Back Bay is: Forum, 755 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

First House Pub to Open in Former Stone Hearth Pizza Space in Winchester

It looks like a brand new dining and drinking spot is coming to a northern suburb of Boston, moving into the space where a location of a group of pizza spots had been.

According to a source (and confirmed by the town's website), First House Pub is planning to open in Winchester Center, taking over the former Stone Hearth Pizza space on Main Street. (The Winchester location of Stone Hearth closed earlier this winter, though its other locations in Allston, Belmont, Cambridge, Hingham, and Needham remain in business.) Very little is currently known about First House Pub other than the fact that our source said the town approved its application for an All Alcoholic Restaurant License; as soon as we find out more--including what kind of food and drink it will offer and when it might open--we will post an update here.

[February 25 update: A message from one of the partners involved with First House Pub mentions that the 73-seat restaurant and bar--which has a connection to Conley's in Watertown--will offer upscale pub food, including salads, fresh seafood, hand-spun pizzas, burgers, house-cut steak tips, and more, along with a seasonally-rotating list of 20 beers on tap.]

[October 16 update: Sources say that First House Pub is on the verge of opening, with the place possibly opening over the next day or two; as soon as we get the official word, we will post another update here.]

[October 19 update: First House Pub is now open.]

The address for this new dining and drinking spot in Winchester is: First House Pub, 528 Main Street, Winchester, MA, 01890.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Beer Garden Coming to The Arsenal on the Charles in Watertown

A brand new beer garden is coming to an historic site along the Charles River just west of the Boston line.

According to an article in the Watertown Tab and Press, the town planning board has approved of a "beer garden restaurant" for The Arsenal on the Charles complex between Arsenal Street and North Beacon Street. The as-of-yet unnamed eating and drinking spot will go into Building 321 (the article says Building 312, but this appears to be an error), which is where a location of Panera Bread and Arsenal Center for the Arts reside, and the group running it has apparently been behind "some of Boston's favorite restaurants for more than 20 years" (the name of the group may come out early next month, according to the post). The Tab and Press says that the new beer garden will have 2,800 square feet of space inside and an additional 4,500 square feet of space outside.

[February 25 update: Eater Boston mentions (via a promotional video from Linx Watertown, a new office building nearby) that the Yard House chain could possibly be the place opening at The Arsenal on the Charles, but a note sent to us from Yard House says "We don't currently have plans to come to Watertown, MA."]

The Arsenal on the Charles site is where a war materials manufacturing and storage plant was first established in the early 1800s; it eventually became home to an army materials and research lab before being redeveloped for civilian use over the past couple of decades.

The address for this upcoming beer garden within The Arsenal on the Charles complex is 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]

Monday, February 23, 2015

Andy Husbands (Tremont 647) Is Planning to Open a New Restaurant

It looks like one of the best-known chefs and restaurateurs in Boston may be opening a new dining spot.

According to an article from The Boston Foodie, Andy Husbands of Tremont 647 in the city's South End neighborhood "will soon be opening a new restaurant." TBF goes on to say that they "are sworn to secrecy as to location and cuisine," but it will apparently be different from that of his Tremont Street restaurant.

Husbands is also a cookbook author and is known in part for being on the Fox TV show Hell's Kitchen in 2009.

As soon as we find out more about Husbands' new restaurant, we will post an update here.

[March 4 update: According to a reliable source within the restaurant industry, the proposed restaurant from Andy Husbands is likely going into the former Tommy Doyle's space in Cambridge's Kendall Square if all goes as planned, which jibes with information from an earlier post from Eater Boston.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Scopa Plans to Open in Boston's North End

It looks like a new restaurant may be coming to the North End of Boston, and it would be moving into the space where another dining spot had been.

NorthEndWaterfront.com is reporting that Scopa is looking to open on Hanover Street in the former location of Pomodoro, with the dining spot being owned by Gennaro A. Riccio, possibly having beer, wine, and cordials (if approved), and having seating for 22. Little else is known about the proposed restaurant at this point in time, but more will likely be learned about the spot tomorrow (Tuesday, February 24) when a Zoning, Licensing & Construction (ZLC) Committee meeting takes place in North Square.

The address for Scopa would be 319 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

[March 10 update: A new post from NorthEndWaterfront.com says that the North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) has voted unanimously to support a liquor license for Scopa, which would be a "refined Italian restaurant" that has seating for 22 and is open for lunch and dinner. If all goes as planned, the restaurant could be opening sometime in June.]

[February 2, 2016 update: A licensing board page within the city of Boston website indicates that Scopa could finally be one step closer to opening by next week, as the city will look into its request for a liquor license on February 10.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

East by Northeast in Cambridge's Inman Square is Closing; Owner to Work with The Gallows Group

An award-winning Asian restaurant in Cambridge is going to be closing, with the person behind it possibly turning his attention to a new dining spot in the South End.

Eater Boston is reporting that East by Northeast in the city's Inman Square neighborhood is shutting down in March after being in business for more than five years. The article says that according to a newsletter post from EXNE chef/owner Phil Tang, he will be working with The Gallows Group to open a new concept, which could be the restaurant moving into the former Hamersley's Bistro space on Tremont Street (Hamersley's closed last October, with the people behind The Gallows on Washington Street and Blackbird Doughnuts on Tremont Street taking over the spot).

East by Northeast has received much recognition since opening its doors in 2010, with a number of local and national publications (including The Boston Globe, New York Times, The Improper Bostonian, Boston Magazine, and Bon Appetit) giving it "best of" awards and/or noting specific dishes from the place.

According to the EXNE website, the last day for the restaurant will be March 8.

The address for this soon-to-close Asian spot in Inman Square is: East by Northeast, 1128 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

GQ's Picks for Outstanding Restaurants of 2015 Include Sarma in Somerville

A well-known food writer for GQ magazine has come out with his picks for America's outstanding restaurants of 2015, and one Boston-area dining spot has made the list.

According to the slideshow article, Alan Richman has included Sarma in Somerville among his picks, with the post for the Pearl Street spot mentioning that the "Eastern-Mediterranean-style food" coming from "the hardest-working kitchen in Somerville" is "irresistible." Items mentioned by Richman include the kofte sliders, gingerbread-scented pumpkin fritters, and smoked-salmon taramasalata.

Sarma was the only New England restaurant picked by Richman, though a few New York City eateries were also mentioned (Momofuku Ko, Shuko, Santina).

For a complete list of GQ's picks, please go to the link below:

The Perfect Night Out: GQ's 25 Most Outstanding Restaurants of 2015

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]

Friday, February 20, 2015

Changes Afoot at jm Curley in Boston

A restaurant and bar in the heart of Boston that is an industry favorite is undergoing some personnel changes.

According to a Boston licensing board hearing page, jm Curley on Temple Place in the city's Downtown Crossing area is petitioning to change the manager from Andrew Cartin (who is the owner of the restaurant) to Mathew Freid, with this news coming several days after the announcement that bar manager Kevin Mabry is no longer working at the place. It is not known if any other personnel changes are coming to jm Curley, nor is it known if any changes are coming to the restaurant itself; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

Cartin is also co-owner of the South End restaurant Merrill & Co.

jm Curley first opened in December of 2011 and has since been received/been nominated for a number of awards from various publications. The restaurant focuses mainly on inventive takes on American comfort food and cocktails.

The address for jm Curley is 21 Temple Place, Boston, MA, 02111.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Dig Out Dine Out Set Up to Help Support Boston-Area Restaurants in the Wake of Recent Snowstorms

A campaign designed to offer savings to diners and help support local restaurants hurt by the historic winter storms has been created.

According to its social media pages, "Dig Out Dine Out" has been put in place with "Boston restaurants...banding together to offer savings to customers through social media to build support for the industry after the historic blizzards." The hashtag #DigOutDineOut can be used by diners to find specials offered at various Boston-area dining spots, with such places as Davio's, Blue Room, Pastoral, Tres Gatos, Belly Wine Bar, Strega, Tico, Back Bay Harry's, Emmet's Pub, West Bridge, Deuxave, and many, many others offering deals.

A couple of ways to find deals are via the Twitter and Facebook links below:

https://twitter.com/DigOutDineOut

https://www.facebook.com/DigOutDineOut

In addition, the following is a link to the Twitter hashtag #DigOutDineOut, which is a quick way to find deals:

Twitter search for #digoutdineout

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Grillo's Pickles Closing Its Brick-and-Mortar Shop in Cambridge's Inman Square

A local company that focuses on pickles is closing its brick-and-mortar shop more than three years after opening it as what initially had been considered a temporary pop-up.

Eater Boston is reporting that Grillo's Pickles is shutting down its store on Cambridge Street in the Inman Square section of Cambridge, though a note on its Instagram page says it hopes to pop up again somewhere else soon. (It is not yet known whether the new location will be temporary or permanent.) Both EB and Grillo's say that the pickle company will continue to sell its products at grocery stores on the East Coast, and it is presumed that they will still be available at various farmers markets around the region.

The brick-and-mortar location of Grillo's Pickles initially opened as a pop-up shop in January of 2012, while the business itself first started out in 2008 with owner Travis Grillo debuting a pickle cart on Boston Common one year later.

The address for the Grillo's shop in Inman Square is 1075 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website can be found at http://www.grillospickles.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Update: Ziti's Express Replacing UBurger in Downtown Boston, Which Closed Due to a "Business Dispute"

[Ed note: This article was updated several times in March to reflect new information given.]

A location of a small group of burger spots has closed for at least the time being, due to what is being termed a "business dispute."

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, UBurger on Tremont Street in downtown Boston is shuttered, with the windows apparently papered over and a sign mentioning something about renovations. A check on the restaurant's Twitter page shows a note saying "Due to a business dispute, the Tremont Street location is presently closed....." Subsequent posts apologize for the inconvenience, refer customers to their other locations, and thank folks for their patronage. It is not yet known what the dispute is about, nor is is known if/when the shop will reopen; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

UBurger, which first opened on Tremont Street in December of 2010, is one of several locations in the Boston area, including ones on Beacon Street in Kenmore Square, Commonwealth Avenue by Boston University, Huntington Avenue at Northeastern University, and a new location coming to Andover Center (another location on North Street by Faneuil Hall closed last summer).

The address for the downtown Boston location of UBurger is 140 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02111. The website for all of the shops can be found at http://www.uburger.com/

[March 5 update: Eater Boston reports (via a Twitter post) that the UBurger closure in downtown Boston appears to be permanent, as a sign shows a new place called Ziti's Express moving in.]

[March 22 update: Based on information from a licensing board page within the City of Boston website, the closure of the downtown location of UBurger is indeed permanent, and it also looks like the people behind UBurger could be behind Ziti's Express as well, as it shows that they are requesting the name be changed, rather than another business entity.]

[March 28 update: A message sent from @BostonTweet indicates that Ziti's Express is now open, and that it is indeed under the same ownership as UBurger--and has the same counter help. @BostonTweet also mentions that the new eatery has both pasta dishes and sandwiches/subs.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Highlights for the Week Ending February 13, 2015

Several more stories and articles focusing on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a celebrity chef dropping a hint about an Italian emporium coming to Boston, a well-known chef and restaurateur planning to open an Asian dining spot in the Fenway, and a BBQ place closing its doors. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included an updated review of a Thai restaurant in Belmont, a photo of a soup from a Chinese dining spot in Quincy, and an updated review of a roadside bar in Dedham.

Below are links to these and other items from the past week:

Boston Restaurant Talk

Mario Batali's Eataly May Be Coming to Boston

InBoston Closing Location in Boston's Financial District

Tiffani Faison to Open Tiger Mama in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

SlowBones Modern BBQ in Burlington Has Closed

Cafe Med Opens in Boston's Back Bay

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

Updated Review: Patou Thai in Belmont, MA

New Photo: Three Cheese Burger from R.F. O'Sullivan's in Somerville, MA

New Photo: Wonton Soup from Quincy Dynasty in Quincy, MA

Updated Review: The Village Manor in Dedham, MA

New Photo: Veal Marsala from Jeveli's in East Boston, MA

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Saladworks Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

A Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain that has been looking to expand into the Boston area for years--and which recently announced an upcoming location in the heart of the city--has declared bankruptcy.

According to an article in Nation's Restaurant News, Saladworks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today, with the plan apparently being to either restructure or sell the business as it deals with lawsuits from the minority owner of the company as well as its bank. The post says that the 100+ locations of the chain will not be affected by the filing, with the company looking to quickly emerge from bankruptcy.

[June 19 update: A new article from Nation's Restaurant News states that Saladworks has been purchased out of bankruptcy by New York-based Centre Lane Partners, with Paul Steck (who has been with the chain for 12 years) becoming the new president and CEO.]

Currently, the only Boston-area location of Saladworks can be found at the CambridgeSide Galleria in East Cambridge, though another one is coming to Tremont Street in Boston [ed note--now open] near where it meets Cambridge Street and Court Street by Government Center.

Thanks to @FoodserviceEast for initially bringing this to our attention.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

A&B Salem to Move to Beverly

A burger spot on the North Shore is going to be moving one town over.

Eater Boston is reporting (via The Salem News) that A&B Salem is hoping to leave its location within a 200-year-old jail complex on St. Peter Street, saying that its proposed move to Beverly is due to such issues as limited parking because of "city-protected green space" and a possible interior expansion being hindered by "protected, historic architecture." The owners of the burger place are turning to Kickstarter to help raise funds for a move to the site of a former grocery store on Cabot Street in Beverly, which has resulted in a backlash from some people on its Facebook page; the owners of A&B responded with a followup FB note, saying that the challenges they face by staying in Salem "outweighed the [benefits] when it came to running our business successfully" and that the Kickstarter campaign would only fund 10% of the move.

A&B first opened in December of 2013, taking over the space where the Great Escape restaurant had once been.

[April 1 update: According to a Twitter post from the dining spot, A&B will be moving to Beverly around the end of the summer (their lease in Salem ends August 31).]

[August 7 update: A Facebook post from A&B indicates that they will be open in Salem until August 31, at which point there may be a period of approximately four weeks (with two weeks of training time) before they move into their new home in Beverly.]

[January 5, 2016 update: A new Facebook note from A&B mentions that will open in their new Beverly location on Friday (January 8).]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Bistro 781 Is Opening in Waltham

A few months after having a "Stop Work" order posted on its storefront, it looks like an upcoming dining spot on Waltham's "restaurant row" is once again planning to open.

Based on a new Facebook page set up by the restaurant, Bistro 781 is going to be opening in the Moody Street space where New Mother India had been for more than 30 years until closing last September. Approximately two months after its closure, we had reported that a freeze on work had been ordered for the new eatery, though no other details were available at the time. When it does open, Bistro 781 will reportedly be an upscale American bistro that is run by the previous owner of the former New Landing restaurant, which had also been located on Moody Street.

[July 19 update: According to a Facebook post from the place, Bistro 781 is opening its doors on Tuesday (July 21) at 5:00 PM.]

[October 26 update: The Waltham News Tribune mentions that Bistro 781 has been open in a "somewhat limited" capacity since debuting in July, but it is now fully open, with its grand opening taking place this past Saturday.]

The address for Bistro 781 is 336 Moody Street, Waltham, MA, 02453; its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Bistro781

[Earlier Articles]
Stop Work Order Posted for Bistro 781 in Waltham
New Mother India in Waltham Has Closed

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Sea Level Oyster Bar and Kitchen Is Opening in Salem

It looks like a new restaurant is coming to the North Shore, and the people behind it also happen to run an upscale seafood spot nearby.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Finz Seafood & Grill on Pickering Wharf in Salem is opening a brand new concept (also on Pickering Wharf) called Sea Level Oyster Bar & Kitchen, with the Salem Mass Dining site stating that the restaurant is moving into the space where Capt's Waterfront Grill & Pub had been until closing last November. The site says that the new eatery will have two floors of dining, a sit-down raw bar, and a bar area with an "extensive beer list and creative cocktails." If all goes as planned, expect to see Sea Level Oyster Bar & Kitchen open in mid-March.

[March 34 update: According to its website, Sea Level Oyster Bar is 15 days away from opening. (thanks to Cappy in Boston for bringing this to our attention.)]

[April 22 update: According to a Facebook post from the restaurant, Sea Level is now open.]

The address for this new restaurant at Pickering Wharf is: Sea Level Oyster Bar & Kitchen, 94 Wharf Street, Salem, MA, 01970. Its website will be at http://sealeveloysterbar.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Petit Robert Central in Boston's Downtown Crossing Has Become Central Bistro

A French restaurant in the heart of downtown Boston has changed its name--and it looks like it may no longer be connected to a group of French dining spots in and around the city.

According to a Twitter post sent earlier today, Petit Robert Central in Downtown Crossing is now called Central Bistro and it has been taken off the site that includes locations of Petit Robert Bistro in the South End of Boston, Kenmore Square (which is going to be replaced by a new dining spot called Josephine), and Needham. The poster says the menu appears to be the same as that of Petit Robert Central, and a check on the Central Bistro website indicates that it indeed looks like that of the former restaurant; in addition, the "Our Story" section of the website no longer shows Petit Robert Bistro owner Jacky Robert, so at least a partial ownership change seems to have taken place.

Petit Robert Central first opened in September of 2010.

The address for Central Bistro (and the former Petit Robert Central) is 101 Arch Street, Boston, MA, 02110. Its website can be found at http://www.centralbistroboston.com/

[Earlier Article]
Petit Robert Bistro in Boston's Kenmore Square to Be Replaced by Josephine

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Petit Robert Bistro in Boston's Kenmore Square to Be Replaced by Josephine

It looks like a new French restaurant is on its way to Boston, opening in the space where another French dining spot has been.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Petit Robert Bistro is going to be replaced by a new eatery called Josephine, Restaurant Parisien, which will offer "contemporary French cuisine and an Old World-style wine selection." The article mentions that the owner of the new restaurant--Samuel Gosselin--spent part of his youth in France, while the opening executive chef Stefano Quaresima comes from the Columbus Avenue location of Petit Robert Bistro in the city's South End neighborhood. Expect to see Josephine open sometime in late March, according to the Globe.

There is no word on the status of Petit Robert Bistro in the South End or the location in Needham; as soon as we get more information, we will post an update here.

[March 2 update: A phone call placed to Petit Robert Bistro in Kenmore Square indicates that it is now closed, and it refers customers to the South End location (though it does not mention the Needham outlet).]

[June 11 update: BostInno mentions that Josephine, Restaurant Parisien plans to soft-open this weekend, and is slated to open to the public sometime next week.]

[June 17 update: According to a post from UrbanDaddy, Josephine, Restaurant Parisien officially opens this Saturday (June 20).]

The address for Petit Robert Bistro in Kenmore Square (and the upcoming Josephine) is 468 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Trillium Brewing Company to Open Second Brewery in Canton

A brewery in Boston is going to be expanding, opening a second facility south of the city.

Eater Boston is reporting (via the brewery's blog) that Trillium Brewing Company in Fort Point is planning to open a larger brewery in Canton (near the upcoming University Station complex), with the new facility also having a retail store and possibly a taproom if the town gives its approval. The blog post from Trillium says that they will remain in their original Congress Street location, operating "more like a pilot brewery" within that space, with kegs and bottles being brought up from the new facility. Between the two breweries, expect to see about 10,000 barrels of beer produced annually, according to the blog.

If all goes as planned, it looks like the new Trillium facility in Canton could be open by later this year.

[December 14 update: BostInno mentions that Trillium opened its new facility in Canton today.]

Trillium first opened its doors in Boston in the spring of 2013. Its address is 369 Congress Street, Boston, MA, 02210, and its website can be found at http://www.trilliumbrewing.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Thursday, February 12, 2015

InBoston to Close Location in Boston's Financial District

A restaurant in Boston's Financial District that features Korean fare with Mexican influences is closing its doors, though it looks like its other location in the city will remain open.

According to a Twitter post from @DTownBostonBID, InBoston on Bedford Street is closing at the end of business tomorrow, with a phone call placed to the eatery confirming this. @DTownBostonBID also notes that its second location on Mass. Ave. near Symphony Hall will remain open, and it is presumed that this won't affect its new location on Moody Street in Waltham, either (we will try to confirm).

InBoston first opened in the Financial District in January of 2014, offering such items as crispy Korean fried chicken (wings, drums, and strips), rice bowls with bulgogi or spicy chicken, and K-tacos (bulgogi or spicy chicken placed in corn tortillas).

The address for the Financial District location of InBoston is 85 Bedford Street, Boston, MA, 02111. Its website can be found at http://inbk-kitchen.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]

Tiffani Faison Is Opening Tiger Mama in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

The person behind a highly-rated Fenway barbecue spot is going to be opening another restaurant in the neighborhood, with this one focusing on the foods of Southeast Asia.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Tiffani Faison is planning to open Tiger Mama on Boylston Street (where her other restaurant Sweet Cheeks is also located), taking over the space where Barrio Cantina, Happy's Bar & Kitchen, and Burton's Grill have all been over the past several years. The article says that Faison plans to offer items on the menu that are influenced by her trips to such countries as Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, apparently including dishes she had at the street food stalls she frequented in the region. The eatery will also have a couple of bars, including a Tiki bar toward the back of the space, according to the Globe.

In addition to Sweet Cheeks, Tiffani Faison has also worked at several other Boston dining spots, including Lucky's Lounge and the now-closed restaurants Rocca and Perdix. She has also been a finalist on the Bravo show "Top Chef."

If all goes as planned, Tiger Mama could be opening in July.

[July 6 update: A licensing board page from the City of Boston website indicates that the board will look into a request on Wednesday (July 8) to transfer Barrio Cantina's liquor license to Tiger Mama.]

[December 6 update: According to an article from The Boston Globe, Tiger Mama opens on December 10.]

The address for this new Asian restaurant in the Fenway is: Tiger Mama, 1363 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

SlowBones Modern BBQ in Burlington Has Closed

It appears that a barbecue spot north of Boston has shut its doors after being in business for a bit more than a year.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, SlowBones Modern BBQ in Burlington "looked closed for good" yesterday, with a check on its Facebook page showing a post that says "Starting on February 1st SlowBones will be closed for Winter vacation." Another post on its website, however, indicates that the Mall Road eatery is permanently closed, with the closure note thanking customers for their support over the past 14 months.

SlowBones in Burlington was started by Boston Market co-founder Steven "Kip" Kolow, who had been looking to go national with the BBQ spot; it is not known if those plans are still in place at this point. (The closure note on the website does say to "Please check back for any upcoming announcements or information," though no additional information has been posted.)

The address for this now-closed barbecue spot in Burlington was: SlowBones Modern BBQ, 80 Mall Road, Burlington, MA, 01803. Its website can be found at http://slowbonesbbq.com/

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Highlights for the Week Ending February 6, 2015

A few more stories and articles centering on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a legendary pizzeria coming to the Boston area, a massive new brewery getting ready to open, and a supper club coming to the waterfront. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included a new review of a roast beef joint in Cambridge, a slideshow that focuses on beer spots, and a photo of a starter from a burger place in Somerville.

Below are links to these and other items from the past week:

Boston Restaurant Talk

Godiva Chocolatier in Boston's Faneuil Hall Has Closed

New Plans for Pepe's Pizza to Open in the Boston Area; Lease in the Works

Lord Hobo Brewing Company to Open in Woburn in March

Ocean Prime to Open in Boston's Seaport District

Sato Restaurant in Waltham Has Closed

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

New Review: Skampa in Cambridge, MA

New Photo: Buffalo Chicken Burrito from Blue Ribbon BBQ in Arlington, MA

Slideshow: Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area

Updated Review: Tennessee's Real BBQ in Braintree, MA

New Photo: Nachos from R.F. O'Sullivan's in Somerville, MA

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Cafe Med Opens in Boston's Back Bay

It looks like a brand new restaurant has just opened up in the Back Bay of Boston.

According to a press release, Cafe Med is now open in the Park Square Building on St. James Avenue, with the eatery offering Mediterranean cuisine with a leaning toward Greek fare. A few items on the menu include stuffed grape leaves, hummus, pita pockets and rollups, and a Greek hot dog in fresh savlaki, along with chicken, beef, and veggie plates.

Cafe Med is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The address for this new Mediterranean dining spot at Park Square is: Cafe Med, 31 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA, 02116.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Friday, February 06, 2015

New Hotel and Restaurant May Open Along Route 2 in Cambridge

A business complex along Route 2 in Cambridge is going to be expanding, and its plans include a new hotel and restaurant.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, the city has approved of plans to expand Cambridge Discovery Park, with the expansion expected to include a 150-room hotel with a restaurant along with two new office buildings and a parking garage. It is not yet known what hotel or restaurant will open in the space, nor is it known when work might be complete (as soon as we get more information, we will post an update here).

Discovery Park is currently home to the Harvard Smithsonian Center, Forrester Research, Genocea Biosciences, and others, and sits just west of the Alewife T station by the Alewife Reservation and the Little River.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Godiva Chocolatier in Boston's Faneuil Hall Has Closed

It looks like a chocolate shop in the heart of downtown Boston has closed its doors.

According to an article in BostInno, the Faneuil Hall location of Godiva Chocolatier is shuttered, with the entire interior of the place being "cleaned out" and a link to a Yelp photo indicating that it closed down as of January 25. The sign also refers customers to its still-open shop on Boylston Street in the Back Bay, and other stores remain open in Braintree, Burlington, Natick, and Peabody.

As BostInno points out, a relatively new location of Ghirardelli chocolate can be found at Faneuil Hall these days.

The address for this now-closed chocolate shop in Faneuil Hall was: Godiva Chocolatier, 1 S Market Street, Boston, MA, 02109. The website for the company can be found at http://www.godiva.com/

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Thursday, February 05, 2015

Schlow Burger from Now-Closed Radius in Boston to Return to Tico Until February 8, 2015

A beloved burger that disappeared with the closing of a popular restaurant a couple of years ago is back for a few days, thanks in part to the New England Patriots.

According to a post from BostInno, Michael Schlow has brought back the Schlow Burger, which was a favorite at Radius in Boston's Financial District until the Broad Street dining spot closed in June of 2013. The burger will be served at Tico in the Back Bay and is on both its lunch and dinner menu at a price of $15 through Sunday, February 8. BostInno says that Schlow brought the burger back to celebrate Sunday's Super Bowl victory by the Patriots, who took care of the Seattle Seahawks, 28-24.

Tico can be found at 222 Berkeley Street, which is between Boylston Street and St. James Avenue.

[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]

Update: In a Pig's Eye in Salem Seized by the State, Reopens

An eclectic North Shore restaurant has been shut down by the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is not known when (or if) it might reopen.

According to a Facebook post from Keep it Klassy, Salem, In a Pig's Eye on Derby Street (just outside of the city's downtown area) has been seized by the state, with the sign out front saying it was shut down because of nonpayment of taxes. The sign--which comes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue--says that the space is now in possession of the commonwealth, and there is no word as of yet whether any kind of payment plan may be in the works in order for the restaurant to eventually reopen. (As soon as we get any new information on the status of the place, we will post an update here.)

[February 6 update: According to a new Facebook post from the restaurant, In a Pig's Eye is reopening today at 12:30 PM, though it is not known whether this is a temporary or a permanent reopening; an earlier article in the Salem Patch mentioned that the eatery owes $38,000 in taxes and if a payment agreement could not be reached, "the assets will be reviewed for auction."]

[February 11 update: Based on several more Facebook posts from the restaurant, In a Pig's Eye remains open nearly a week after being seized by the state. It is not yet known how the issue was resolved, but it appears that the dining spot is indeed up and running once again.]

In a Pig's Eye has been featured by our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as a relatively little-known spot to go to for traditional American food and pub grub. The review can be found at the link below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/InAPigsEye.html

The address for In a Pig's Eye is 148 Derby Street, Salem, MA, 01970.

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Pepe's Pizza Is Opening in Chestnut Hill

Last July we reported that an iconic New Haven pizzeria was planning to open a location in Brookline, though the deal fell through two months later. Now we have learned that its plans are back on again, albeit in a different location.

According to a source, Pepe's Pizza is in the process of signing a lease for a location of its restaurant somewhere in the metro Boston area, with the information coming from an article in The Connecticut Table blog within Connecticut Magazine. According to the post, a lease for the undisclosed space "was about to be signed" as of late last month, with Ken Berry (president and CEO of Frank Pepe's Development Co.) saying that it is not the location of The Fireplace in Brookline, which is where Pepe's had been hoping to open before the plans fell apart (The Fireplace remains open in its Beacon Street space). It appears that the new location of Pepe's could be opening later this year.

Berry also mentions in the article that two or three new locations of Pepe's could come to Connecticut at some point, and he says that if the upcoming Boston-area shop "is well-received," others could be opening in metro Boston as well.

[February 6 update: Eater Boston says that the new location of Pepe's will be in Chestnut Hill, with a tipster saying it will move into the space within The Mall at Chestnut Hill where Papa Razzi had been. (This location was also mentioned by one of our sources as well.)]

[March 14 update: A new update from Eater Boston confirms that Pepe's will have a coal-fired brick oven. (The post also says that the 3,200-square-foot restaurant will have seating for 85 and the opening might not happen until the fall.)]

[December 2 update: The Boston Globe states that Pepe's will open in Chestnut Hill on December 16, and that it will be a bit different from the other Pepe's locations, offering additional salads and toppings and including an indoor patio.]

[December 10 update: According to an email, the new Pepe's in Chestnut Hill will be having an invite-only soft opening on Monday, December 14 and Tuesday, December 15, with the grand opening to the public apparently still on for Wednesday, December 16.]

Pepe's started out in New Haven in 1925 and now has additional locations in Danbury, Fairfield, Manchester, Mohegan Sun, and West Hartford in Connecticut, along with one in Yonkers, NY. It has received numerous accolades/awards, with The Daily Meal listing it as the #1 pizza in America last year. (Pepe's website can be found at http://www.pepespizzeria.com/)

[Earlier Article]
Pepe's Pizza No Longer Coming to The Fireplace Space in Brookline; Deal Called Off

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