Boston Restaurant Talk: May 2016

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Yumi in Somerville's Davis Square Has Closed; New Restaurant Apparently Coming

It looks like a hot pot and sushi place in Somerville has closed, and what appears to be a new spot may be on its way to the space.

According to a thread on the Davis Square LiveJournal blog, Yumi in Davis Square is apparently shuttered, with one post showing a sign out front saying that "we're coming soon" this summer, though no name has been given to the new place. The poster out front also says that the upcoming eatery will have sushi, bento boxes, ramen, and sushi burritos.

Yumi first opened its doors in November of 2015, taking over the space where a location of Pinkberry had been.

The address for the now-closed Yumi (and upcoming new restaurant) is 263 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[June 7 update: Eater Boston states that a chain called Pokeworks is looking to open at 261 Elm Street, and that they will feature a Hawaiian raw fish salad known as "poke" while also offering "pokirritos" which are basically sushi burritos. It is not yet known whether Pokeworks will take over both 261 and 263 Elm Street, or perhaps the 261 address given is incorrect, or if it is possible that two sushi burrito spots may open next door to each other; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

Update: Christopher Kimball (Founder of America's Test Kitchen) to Launch Milk Street Kitchen

[Ed note: This article--which was originally posted on April 6--was updated on May 31 to reflect new information given, including a different name for the venture.]

The founder of a local company known for its popular TV show and magazines is working on a new venture.

According to a Twitter post from @DGoodison of The Boston Herald in April, Christopher Kimball (America's Test Kitchen, Cook's Illustrated, Cook's Country) has signed a lease at 177 Milk Street in downtown Boston for a business listed as CPK Media, with a now-expired job post on the AIGA site saying that "Christopher Kimball, founder and creator of Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines and founder of 'America's Test Kitchen,' has set out to launch a new multi-channel cooking venture." A new article from the New York Times states that Kimball's new business will actually be called Milk Street Kitchen, and it will include a public television series, a brand new magazine, a cooking school, and more, with Kimball also looking to start writing books as well. The post says that Kimball's new venture will focus on "global flavors" rather than looking at New England fare, which is a large part of what he did at America's Test Kitchen. If all goes as planned, Milk Street Kitchen should officially launch sometime this fall.

Last fall, Christopher Kimball left America's Test Kitchen following a change of leadership that took place a couple of months earlier, and apparently, a contract dispute. At the time, it looked like Kimball and his wife Melissa Baldino might be starting up a new company, though no information had been given on the venture at the time.

America's Test Kitchen started out in 1992 with the magazine Cook’s Illustrated, with the show by the same name and the magazine Cook's Country coming later as well as a radio show and books. The headquarters for ATK are in Brookline Village.

The website for Milk Street Kitchen is at http://www.milkstreetkitchen.com/

[Earlier Article]
Christopher Kimball to Leave America's Test Kitchen

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Luke's Lobster Is Opening in Boston's Downtown Crossing

It looks like a New York-based group of eateries featuring lobster rolls is going to be opening a second shop in Boston, and this one will be in the heart of the downtown area.

According to a source, Luke's Lobster is making plans to open on Washington Street in Downtown Crossing, taking over the space where Cakeology had been. Our source believes that the lease for the space has already been signed, but this has not been completely confirmed as of yet, while a message sent from Luke's indicates that there is not a specific opening date for this location as of yet and to keep checking their social media pages for updates. Once it does open, the new location of Luke's Lobster will join another within the Avalon Exeter apartment tower on Exeter Street in the Back Bay, which opened in July of 2015.

Former lobsterman and Maine resident Luke Holden established Luke's Lobster in New York's East Village in 2009 along with his father Jeff Holden and business partner Ben Conniff. Currently, locations can be found in New York, Hoboken, NJ, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Bethesda, MD, Chicago, and Las Vegas.

The address for the new location of Luke's Lobster in Downtown Crossing is 290 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02108. The website for Luke's can be found at http://lukeslobster.com/

[July 14 update: Eater Boston confirms that Luke's Lobster is indeed coming to the former Cakeology space, and it looks like the new shop could be opening later this summer if all goes as planned.]

[September 23 update: A new post from Eater Boston states that Luke's Lobster opens its new location in Downtown Crossing at noon today.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Seafood Dishes from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]

Saltie Girl Opens in the Back Bay of Boston June 1

Approximately a year and a half after plans were first announced, it looks like a brand new restaurant in Boston's Back Bay is ready to open.

Eater Boston is reporting that Saltie Girl opens its doors tomorrow (Wednesday, June 1) on Dartmouth Street, taking over the space where the Met's private events space--called Townhouse--had been. Met owner Kathy Sidell is behind the new eatery, with the article from EB saying that the place will focus on seafood, including such items as lobster rolls, bisques and chowders, fried lobster and waffles, and on its late-night menu, tinned fish. Beer, wine, and cocktails will be offered at Saltie Girl, which will include a dining area, a bar, and a raw bar/shucking station.

Kathy Sidell's Met Restaurant Group includes Met locations in the Back Bay, Dedham, Natick, and Nantucket, along with another in Bethesda, MD.

The address for this new restaurant in the Back Bay of Boston is: Saltie Girl, 281 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA, 02116. Its website will be at http://www.saltiegirl.com/

[Earlier Article]
Met Restaurant Group to Open Saltie Girl in Boston's Back Bay

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Seafood Dishes from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]

Sweet Tomatoes in West Newton to Reopen This Summer

A West Newton pizza shop that was the site of a fatal SUV crash earlier this year may be reopening soon.

According to a Twitter post from this past Friday, Sweet Tomatoes on Washington Street has a sign out front saying that it will reopen this summer, though no specific opening date has been given as of yet. (Currently, much of the storefront is covered by sheets of plywood.) On March 1, an SUV crashed through the front of the eatery at dinnertime, killing two people and injuring seven others, with one witness mentioning that "it sounded like a bomb went off."

Other locations of Sweet Tomatoes in Newton Centre, Needham, and at Northeastern University in Boston remain in operation.

[Earlier Article]
Two People Killed After SUV Crashes into Sweet Tomatoes in West Newton

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 Has Opened in the North End of Boston

More than a year after first announcing its plans to open, a new Italian restaurant in Boston's North End is now up and running.

NorthEndWaterfront.com is reporting that Scopa is now open on Hanover Street, taking over the space where Pomodoro had been. (Pomodoro is now open within the Volle Nolle space about a block down Hanover Street.) The post says that the 22-seat Scopa has a "refined Italian" menu featuring pasta, meat, and seafood dishes, along with pizza and bread--both of which are cooked in a brick oven.

For now, Scopa is open for dinner only, but it may start opening for lunch as well at some point in the future, according to NorthEndWaterfront.com.

The address for this new Italian dining spot in the North End is: Scopa, 319 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113. Its website can be found at http://scopaboston.com/

[Earlier Article]
Scopa Plans to Open in Boston's North End

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pasta Dishes from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Friday, May 27, 2016

Esquire's 2016 Best Bars in America List Includes Croke Park/Whitey's in South Boston

A popular men's magazine has come out with its annual picks for best bars in America, and one of the few remaining dive bars in South Boston has made the list.

According to an article in Boston Magazine, Esquire Magazine has included Croke Park/Whitey's on W Broadway in its list of best bars, with the magazine's drinks editor David Wondrich saying that "I do my best to exercise good—okay, goodish—judgment when I'm touring barrooms, but every once in a while, a gear slips a tooth and dosages get miscalculated. Whitey's is a slipped tooth," and stating that he has "dim memories of having an excellent time" there. This year's Boston pick is quite a bit different from the two picks from last year's Esquire list, which included the eclectic watering hole State Park in Cambridge's Kendall Square and the iconic Irish pub J.J. Foley's in Boston's South End.

To see Esquire's complete list of best bars in America for 2016, please go to the following link:

http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/bars/a44780/best-bars-in-america/

[Related Article]
Esquire's 2015 Best Bars in America List Includes State Park in Cambridge, J.J. Foley's in Boston's South End

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

Sillari's Pizza Opens in Malden

More than two years after first reporting on the place, we have learned that a brand new pizza spot has opened its doors.

Eater Boston states that Sillari's Pizza is now open in Malden, and as mentioned before, Michael Dulock of M.F. Dulock Pasture-Raised Meats in Somerville is an investor in the eatery while New England Culinary Institute graduate Scott Sillari is the person behind the pizzas. The article says that the takeout-only Medford Street shop focuses nearly exclusively on pizza, with the only other options available being chicken fingers and rice, while the brick-oven pizzas are customizable in which customers choose either a marinara or pesto sauce and pick from a variety of toppings such as sausage, olives, pepperoni, and more.

Sillari's Pizza is open Thursday to Monday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, according to EB.

The address for this new pizza shop in Malden is: Sillari's Pizza, 97 Medford Street, Malden, MA, 02148. The website for the place can be found at http://www.sillarispizza.com/

[Earlier Article]
M.F. Dulock Owner to Open Sillari's Pizza in Malden

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pizzas in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Bone Up Brewing Company in Everett Now Brewing Beer; Taproom Coming Soon

Back in 2014, we reported that a brewery was on its way to one of Boston's northern neighbors, and now we have learned that they are currently in the process of being up and running.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Bone Up Brewing Company has started brewing beer and is planning to have its brews available in restaurants and bars over the next week or two if the initial batches meet their "Quality Standards," according to a blog post from the brewery. The post says that the taproom is not yet ready and that a public opening depends on how work progresses on the facility and when the building department might give its approval. The blog says that the first beers available will be Honey & Hops, which is an IPA, and Bone Smasher, which is a session IPA.

Bone Up Brewing Company is one of several breweries to open just north of Boston, with others including Night Shift Brewing and Down the Road Brewery in Everett, Mystic Brewery in Chelsea, and Idle Hands, which is in the process of moving from Everett to Malden.

The address for Bone Up Brewing Company is 38 Norman Street, Everett, MA, 02149. Its website can be found at http://www.boneup.beer/

[June 24 update: Boston Magazine reports that Bone Up Brewing Company has debuted its beers, with Honey & Hops IPA being available at Foundry on Elm and The Independent in Somerville and Maverick Marketplace Cafe in East Boston; Bone Smasher session IPA being at Foundry on Elm along with Woods Hill Table in Concord and Mystic Station in Malden; and Black Witow dark wheat ale being offered at Maverick Marketplace Cafe.]

[August 18 update: A new article from Boston Magazine states that Bone Up Brewing Company opens its taproom to the public on Saturday, August 27.]

[Earlier Article]
Bone Up Brewing Company Plans to Open in Everett

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

Estragon to Open Bar Gogo in Former Las Ventas Space in Boston's South End

Last fall, we reported that a food shop and deli in Boston's South End had closed down, and that the space would be used by the restaurant next door. Now we have learned a bit more about how the space--which will be up and running next month--will be used.

According to an email sent yesterday, Estragon on Harrison Avenue is opening a Sunday night-only spot called Bar Gogo in the former Las Ventas space next door, while the space will be used for private functions and events the rest of the time. The email says that Bar Gogo will feature a supper menu and a rotating list of cocktails to patrons, with food coming from chef Julio de Haro and drinks coming from bartender Sahil Mehta. The bar will debut on June 12, according to the note.

Las Ventas--which is owned by the same family that runs Estragon--closed last November after being in business for approximately eight years.

The address for Bar Gogo (and the new function/event space) is 700 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118.

[Earlier Article]
Las Ventas in Boston's South End Closes; Will Become Private Space for Estragon

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, May 25, 2016

Jay Silva Leaving Bambara in Cambridge, Becoming Owner of Restaurant in Winthrop

A well-known local chef who has worked at several top Boston-area dining spots is leaving his current post to run his very own restaurant.

A note sent from Jay Silva indicates that he is finishing up his job as Executive Chef at Bambara in Cambridge after nearly nine years, with his last day there being June 3. Once he leaves the restaurant (which is located within the Hotel Marlowe on Land Boulevard), he will set his sights on owning a place in Winthrop that will include a casual pizzeria, a full-service restaurant featuring seasonal food in a casual environment with beer, wine, and cocktails offered, live entertainment, takeout, catering, and function space. Silva tells us that Marc Orfaly (The Beehive, Pigalle) will be part of the opening team, helping with BOH operations as a consultant.

In addition to Bambara, Jay Silva has also been involved with such spots as the Boston Harbor Hotel, Pho Republique, Pigalle, the Ritz Carlton Boston, and Sage, according to bostonchefs.com.

[June 30 update: According to a Facebook post from Jay Silva, he is going to become the new owner of JW's in Winthrop starting July 1, and he will be revamping and expanding the place over the coming months, with (as stated earlier) Marc Orfaly helping out with the changes beginning in the fall.]

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]

Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge to Start Offering Beer and Wine

An arthouse cinema in Cambridge will soon start offering more than just soda to customers.

Cambridge Day is reporting that the city's license commission has approved of a beer and wine license for Kendall Square Cinema, allowing it to possibly offer 11 domestic craft beers and another 5 imported brews, along with the potential for 12 red wines, 8 wines, and two sparkling options in the theater's lobby section. No specific date has been given as to when Kendall Square Cinema might start offering beer and wine; as soon as we get more information, we will post an update here.

Kendall Square Cinema is known in part for its showing of independent and foreign movies along with new releases as well.

The address for Kendall Square Cinema is 355 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website can be found at https://www.landmarktheatres.com/boston/kendall-square-cinema

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

75 on Courthouse Square Is Opening in Boston's Seaport District/Fort Point Area

The group behind four Boston restaurants and bars--including one in the Seaport District--is planning to open a new spot that would basically be on the same stretch of road as its restaurant on the waterfront.

A Twitter post from Boston Herald writer @DGoodison indicates that 75 Seaport is looking to open on Seaport Boulevard about a half mile west of 75 on Liberty Wharf, which is located on Northern Avenue (just east of where the road becomes Seaport Boulevard) and is owned by the Hampshire House group. A post on the Fort Point Boston blog shows that The Hampshire House is indeed also behind the proposed 75 Seaport, which is being introduced at a neighborhood meeting this evening. Very little is currently known about 75 Seaport at this point in time; as soon as we find out more about the place, we will post an update here.

In addition to 75 on Liberty Wharf, the Hampshire House group also operates 75 Chestnut and Cheers--both of which are in the city's Beacon Hill neighborhood--and another location of Cheers at Faneuil Hall.

The address for 75 Seaport is 60 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for the Hampshire House can be found at http://www.hampshirehouse.com/

Thanks to @FPNA_Boston supplying additional information on this story.

[October 31, 2017 update: Boston Magazine mentions that the new place will actually be called 75 on Courthouse Square.]

[November 30, 2017 update: The website for the restaurant states that 75 on Courthouse Square plans to open in January.]

[January 22, 2018 update: The Tables section of The Boston Globe says that 75 on Courthouse Square opens for dinner on Friday, January 26 (this has been confirmed by the restaurant).]

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]

O'Donnell's Restaurant & Pub in Randolph Has Become 1048 Bar & Grill

A decades-old restaurant and bar in the southern suburbs of Boston has a new name, though it appears that the place remains much the same other than some upgrades to the space.

According to a source, O'Donnell's Restaurant & Pub in Randolph is now called 1048 Bar & Grill, with a sign out front saying "Same great place, just with a new name." A Facebook post from the North Main Street spot indicates that it remains under the same ownership and that renovations have been made to the dining room and the kitchen. A couple of food items posted on the Facebook page include a "new" 16-inch Italian-style pizza along with a prime rib special.

O'Donnell's Restaurant & Pub first opened more than 30 years ago.

The address for 1048 Bar & Grill (and the former O'Donnell's Restaurant & Pub) is 1048 N Main Street, Randolph, MA, 02368.

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]

Urban Hearth to Take Over L'Impasto Space in Cambridge

An Italian restaurant in Cambridge that once received a "best of" from our sister site has shut down, and a culinary event company is moving into the space.

A Twitter post from last night mentioned that L'Impasto on Mass. Ave. looked shuttered, and a Facebook post from Urban Hearth confirms the closure of the North Cambridge dining spot, saying that it will be taking over the L'Impasto space and opening what looks to be a cafe, supper club, and apparently a place for events and recipe/product development, based on an earlier Kickstarter page. If all goes as planned, Urban Hearth will be up and running by the fall.

L'Impasto, which first opened in the summer of 2011, was a tiny Italian eatery that was known in part for its house-made pastas and breads. Our Boston's Hidden Restaurants site awarded it "best Italian restaurant" in the Boston area in 2012, with a review of the place being found at the link below:

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

The address for the now-closed L'Impasto (and upcoming Urban Hearth) is 2263 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140. The website for Urban Hearth can be found at http://www.urbanhearth.net/

[May 27 update: The Boston Globe gives a bit more information on the upcoming Urban Hearth, saying that the 24-seat place will be a cafe at breakfast and lunch while being a supper club in the evening with themed meals (it will also have pop-up dinners on Monday and Tuesday nights).]

[June 28 update: There has been a bit of chatter about L'Impasto possibly moving to a new space nearby, but that prospect may be dimming a bit, as a license hearing page mentions that the restaurant has canceled its license and turned it in.]

[October 20 update: Eater Boston mentions that Urban Hearth opens on Thursday, October 27.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pasta Dishes from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Monday, May 23, 2016

Hopsters to Open in Boston's Fort Point Neighborhood

A brewpub and "community" brewery in Newton that allows folks to make their own beer is opening another location in a particularly hot section of Boston for food and drink.

Boston Magazine is reporting that Hopsters is in the final stages of landing a location for a new outlet somewhere in the Fort Point area of the city, with owner Lee Cooper saying that "I can't give the exact location yet, but we're not far from Seaport Boulevard." The article says that the 6,000-foot-space will have a similar concept to the original location on Centre Street in Newton Corner, with a dining and drinking area offering flatbreads and other dishes and a section where people can brew their own beer--and customers will also be able to buy crowlers (32-ounce cans) of Hopsters beers. If all goes as planned, the new location in Fort Point could be opening in February of 2017.

Hopsters first opened in Newton Corner in 2013, with a package store called Hopsters Alley also opening in the Boston Public Market last year. The website for Hopsters can be found at http://www.hopstersbrew.com/

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

[June 29 update: According to a Twitter post from @FortPointer, Hopsters will be opening at 51 Sleeper Street, which is where Sleeper Street Cafe had been, and a followup tweet from @CommunityGal indicates that the new place will have seating for 100-150 inside.]

[December 29, 2017 update: A Twitter post from @BostonTweet indicates that the Fort Point location of Hopsters is opening for New Year's Eve.]

[January 4, 2018 update: Boston Magazine mentions that Hopsters officially opens later today at Fort Point, even with the storm taking place.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

Update: Nix's Mate in Boston's Financial District Is Closing; Being Replaced by 89 Broad

[Ed note: This article was updated on June 2 and 7 to reflect the fact that a new restaurant is moving into the space.]

A local group of restaurants that once had four locations in Massachusetts will soon be down to just one within the state, as its original restaurant in downtown Boston is getting ready to close.

Eater Boston is reporting that Nix's Mate within the Hilton Hotel in the city's Financial District closes on May 31, confirming what a source told us earlier this month. The article mentions that the lease for Nix's space is up at the end of the month, and the owners of the restaurant are planning to open in a new location by early 2017, with the location possibly being announced in the next few weeks.

Nix's Mate first opened in the Hilton on Broad Street in 2012 and quickly expanded, opening new locations with the Nix's name in Nantucket, Newburyport, and Plymouth, along with Hartford and South Windsor, CT. The Plymouth location shut down in 2014, while the Newburyport outlet closed last year.

The address for Nix's Mate in the Financial District is 89 Broad Street, Boston, MA, 02110. Its website can be found at http://www.nixsmate.com/

[June 2 update: According to a couple of sources, Nix's Mate will be replaced by a new restaurant called 89 Broad, which should be opening over the next few days. No other information has been given on the place, so check back for more updates.]

[June 7 update: A new article from Eater Boston mentions that 89 Broad is now open, though little other information on the new spot is available right now.]

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]

Nespresso Boutique Bar in Boston's Back Bay Reopens After Closing Due to Measles Scare

A cafe that temporarily closed a couple of weeks ago after a customer with a highly contagious viral infection visited the place is open once again.

A phone call this morning confirms that Nespresso Boutique Bar on Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay has reopened after the city's Inspectional Services Department shut it down because a person with measles had been in the store earlier this month. In addition to the Back Bay shop, people may also have been exposed to the person with the measles virus in other parts of the region, including in local shopping centers, on an MBTA bus, in the center of Rockport, at the Prudential Center, and at MGH.

A call placed to Nespresso last week indicated that they were hoping for a May 25 reopening, but the shop was apparently able to reopen earlier than the targeted date.

The address for the Back Bay location of Nespresso Boutique Bar is 7 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116. The website for the company can be found at https://www.nespresso.com/us/en/

[Earlier Article]
Nespresso Boutique Bar in Boston's Back Bay Closed After Customer with Measles Visits Shop

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]

Sleeper Street Cafe in Boston's Fort Point Neighborhood Is Closing

Another popular spot for breakfast and lunch in one of Boston's hottest neighborhoods for dining is shutting its doors.

According to a post on Twitter, Sleeper Street Cafe in the city's Fort Point area is closing on Friday, May 27, with a note from the eatery thanking customers for their support and saying that the owner hopes to find another location nearby. The cafe, which first opened approximately a decade ago, offered such items as muffins, yogurt, bagels, soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Another breakfast and lunch spot one block away from Sleeper Street Cafe called Yada Yada closed a few weeks ago, with the Farnsworth Street eatery's space soon becoming home to a new location of Craft Beer Cellar.

The address for the soon-to-close Sleeper Street Cafe in Fort Point is 51 Sleeper Street, Boston, MA, 02210.

[Earlier Article]
Yada Yada in Boston's Fort Point Has Closed

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Items from Bakeries and Pastry Shops in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Trader Joe's to Open in Somerville's Assembly Square

A California-based chain of specialty grocery stores that has a handful of locations in the Greater Boston area is opening a new one just north of the city.

According to an article in boston.com, Trader Joe's is planning to open a shop at Assembly Square in Somerville, apparently taking over part of the AC Moore space, though the post speculates (based on the address given) that it could also take over part or all of the adjacent Sports Authority store which is closing. One it opens in the third quarter of 2017, it will join others in Boston, Cambridge (2), Brookline, Acton, Arlington, Burlington, Foxborough, Framingham, Hanover, Hingham, Needham, Newton, and Peabody.

Trader Joe's, which first started out in Pasadena and is now based in Monrovia, is known in part for its variety of reasonably-priced private-label items.

The address for the upcoming Trader Joe's at Assembly Square is 133 Middlesex Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02145. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.traderjoes.com/

[July 31 update: According to a source, the new Trader Joe's at Assembly Square opens on Friday, August 4.]

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, May 20, 2016

Clover to Open in the Longwood Section of Boston

The people behind a local group of vegetarian food trucks and brick-and-mortar dining spots will soon be expanding once again, this time opening a shop in an area of Boston known for its medical facilities

Eater Boston is reporting that Clover is planning to open in the Longwood section of the city, moving into a space on Longwood Avenue sometime in June if all goes as planned. Once it opens, it will join other brick-and-mortar locations in Boston's Downtown Crossing, Cambridge's Central Square, Inman Square, Harvard Square, and Kendall Square, and in Brookline and Burlington--along with a number of food trucks set up in the region as well.

The address for the upcoming location of Clover in the Longwood area of Boston is 360 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all of its restaurants and food trucks can be found at http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/

[July 15 update: A new post from Eater Boston mentions that the Longwood location of Clover plans to open July 21.]

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]

Howling Wolf Taqueria Express Is Opening in Marblehead This Summer

It looks like a restaurant on the North Shore that features New Mexican cuisine will soon be opening a quick-service location of its dining spot.

A post on the OctoCog site states that the owners of Howling Wolf Taqueria in Salem will be opening Howling Wolf Taqueria Express in Marblehead, with the eatery moving into Miller's Plaza on Pleasant Street in mid-July if all goes as planned. The post says that the new dining spot will have both dine-in and takeout options and the space will include an outdoor patio during the warmer months, while an earlier Facebook post from the Salem location mentions that it will be a "self-service" spot.

The original Howling Wolf first opened its doors on Lafayette Street in Salem in the summer of 2010.

The address for this new eatery in Marblehead is: Howling Wolf Taqueria Express, 89 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945. The website for the Salem location of Howling Wolf can be found at http://howlingwolftaqueria.com/

[August 16 update: The Marblehead Reporter mentions that Howling Wolf Taqueria Express is now open.]

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]

Tapestry Is Opening in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

Last year, we reported that a music club in Boston's Fenway neighborhood was closing, and a chef who used to work at one of the city's best-known restaurants was going to be involved in the opening of a new dining spot within the space. Now we have learned that the new spot is just about ready to open--and that another chef is part of the team behind it.

Boston Magazine states that Tapestry is planning to open in the middle of next week on Kilmarnock Street, taking over the former Church space. As mentioned earlier, the new spot will have two different concepts, with Boston Magazine saying that the side where Church had a restaurant will be a casual space with an oyster bar and wood-fired pizza, while the old club side will be a more formal dining space that has "mid-century Havana lounge vibes."

The Tapestry team includes Meghann Ward, who had been the chef de cuisine at Coppa in Boston's South End and Marlena Ward, who is Meghann's stepmother, as well as Kevin Walsh, who is married to Meghann and had been pastry chef at the now-closed Clio in the Back Bay. (Meghann and Kevin met while working at the now-closed Radius in downtown Boston a decade ago.)

The address for the new Tapestry is 69 Kilmarnock Sreet, Boston, MA, 02215.

[May 26 update: Eater Boston mentions that Tapestry opens tonight.]

[Earlier Article]
Coppa Alum Plans to Open Two-Section Restaurant in Former Church Space in Boston's Fenway

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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]

Lower Mills Tavern Is Opening in Dorchester

Last year, we reported that a new restaurant and bar would be coming to Dorchester, taking over the space where a decades-old pub had been. Now we have learned that the place is just about ready to open.

According to a post on its Facebook page from earlier this week, the Lower Mills Tavern is about two weeks away from opening in the former Lower Mills Pub space on Dorchester Avenue, with a source indicating that the dining and drinking spot may have had a preview/soft opening this week. No specific opening date has been given as of yet, so keep checking back for updates.

[May 27 update: The Dorchester Reporter mentions that Lower Mills Tavern officially opens next week.]

[June 2 update: A phone call placed to the eating and drinking spot indicates that Lower Mills Tavern has opened.]

The team behind the Lower Mills Tavern--which looks to be a family-friendly neighborhood restaurant and bar--includes Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys, who is also behind McGreevey's in Boston's Back Bay. Others mentioned earlier include Brian O'Donnell, who was is apparently a "key partner," and HGTV host Taniya Nayak, who is married to O'Donnell.

The address for the Lower Mills Tavern is 2269 Dorchester Avenue, Boston, MA, 02124. Its website will be at http://www.lowermillstavern.com/

[Earlier Article]
Lower Mills Pub in Dorchester Will Become Lower Mills Tavern

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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, May 19, 2016

Gita to Replace Pelekasis within Wink and Nod Space in Boston's South End

A Greek pop-up restaurant will be wrapping things up in the South End of Boston this summer, and a new pop-up with South and Central Asian influences will be taking its place.

Eater Boston is reporting that Gita Kantrow (Journeyman, Rialto, Trade) is opening Gita within the Wink & Nod space on Appleton Street, moving in on August 1 when Brendan Pelley's Pelekasis leaves the space. The article says that the new pop-up will focus on Nepalese cuisine with influences also coming from Indian, Tibetan, and Western fare. A message from Pelley indicates that Pelekasis may be reopening sometime in 2017 as a permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant, and while he is hoping to open the dining spot somewhere in the South End, nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

Wink & Nod is a culinary incubator run by Boston Nightlife Ventures that features a new pop-up approximately once every six months.

The address for Pelekasis, the upcoming Gita, and Wink & Nod is 3 Appleton Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for Wink & Nod can be found at http://winkandnod.com/

[July 20 update: According to a Facebook post, Pelekasis closes on Saturday, July 30.]

[August 1 update: Boston Magazine states that Gita debuts today, with its bar menu coming around the middle of the month.]

[Earlier Article]
Pelekasis Opens within Wink and Nod Space in Boston's South End

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]

Victor's Italian Cuisine in Saugus Is Moving to Former Maddy's Space

An Italian restaurant that is located on a legendary stretch of highway north of Boston is looking to move to a new location a short distance away, taking over the space where a dining and drinking spot had once been.

The Saugus Advertiser is reporting that Victor's Italian Cuisine on Route 1 is looking to relocate from its current home just north of Route 1 Miniature Golf to the former Maddy's space on the other side of the mini-golf place (where Route 99 forks off from Route 1). The article indicates that the Italian eatery will move into the new--and larger--space within the next couple of months and that it will stay open in its current home until the new property is ready to be occupied. The new location of Victor's will have a liquor license, along with a bar and possibly a space for entertainment, according to the Advertiser.

The Maddy's space had previously been home to a country & western bar called the Blue Star.

The address for Victor's present location is 1539 Broadway, while the address for the new location will be 1639 Broadway. Its website can be found at http://www.victorsitaliancuisine.com/

[November 22 update: The Saugus Advertiser states that Victor's Italian Cuisine plans to have a grand opening at its new location sometime around Valentine's Day.]

[March 20, 2017 update: According to Facebook posters, Victor's Italian Cuisine is now open in its new space.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pasta Dishes from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Silvertone in Boston's Downtown Crossing to Be Sold

It looks like an iconic restaurant and bar in the heart of downtown Boston is being sold.

According to a licensing board page within the city of Boston website, Silvertone on Bromfield Street in Downtown Crossing has petitioned to transfer the business to East Coast Eats, Inc., with the new manager being David Savoie. It appears that the name (Sivertone Bar & Grill) will be kept, though it is not known what changes--if any--might come to the place. A hearing on this will take place at City Hall on May 25.

Silvertone, which first opened in 1997, is known in part as an "industry" favorite that is frequented by people in the restaurant business as well as nearby office workers in the Financial District; the dining and drinking spot focuses on comfort food (the macaroni and cheese is often mentioned as being one of the best in the Boston area) as well as classic cocktails.

The address for Silvertone is 69 Bromfield Street, Boston, MA, 02108. Its website can be found at http://silvertonedowntown.com/

[May 19 update: A source in the restaurant business tells us that a ticket agency may have a connection to the proposed new ownership of Silvertone; a check online appears to confirm this, showing that the name of the owner of East Coast Ticket--which is based on nearby Milk Street in downtown Boston--is David Savoie.]

[July 7 update: Boston Magazine states that Silvertone has officially been sold, and it reopened this evening after a few days of "summer vacation." The article does appear to allay some fears of longtime patrons, as new owner David Savoie says that the restaurant and bar will essentially remain the same, with the name, menu, concept, and bar program staying in place, though Savoie is going to "spruce up" a few things and he hopes to extend the hours over the coming weeks.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

Delicias Pacias Bakery in Lowell Destroyed in Early-Morning Fire

A Latin American bakery and restaurant in Lowell was gutted in a fire early this morning.

The Lowell Sun is reporting that Delicias Pacias Bakery on Bridge Street was destroyed in a three-alarm blaze that was apparently caused by a deep fryer as a worker was opening the place up sometime around 4:30 AM. The article says that the building is now uninhabitable, with most of its roof collapsing and firefighters not being able to get into the structure to see the exact extent of the damage as of this time. It is not yet known if the owner of the bakery will try to rebuild.

Delicias Pacias Bakery, which first opened in 1996, has been known for its Colombian foods, including such items as cheese bread, empanadas, arepas, chicken and rice, steak with chimichurri sauce, tamales, and chicken pies.

The address for Delicias Pacias Bakery is 392 Bridge Street, Lowell, MA, 01850.

[May 20 update: Eater Boston mentions (via an update from the Lowell Sun) that the building housing Delicias Pacias Bakery has been torn down, and it is still not known whether the owner will reopen.]

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, May 18, 2016

Caffe Nero Is Opening in Boston's Fort Point This Week

Early last year, we reported that a chain of Italian-style coffee shops based in Europe would be opening a shop in one of Boston's hottest neighborhoods. Now we have learned that its opening is just about here.

A note sent from the chain indicates that the Fort Point location of Caffe Nero soft-opens on Thursday May 19, with the Congress Street store being fully open starting Friday, May 20. The new shop will join others in Boston's Downtown Crossing (Millennium Place), the South End, Longwood, and Jamaica Plain, along with upcoming stores in Cambridge's Central Square, Wellesley, and a second shop in Downtown Crossing at the Millennium Tower development.

The address for this new location of Caffe Nero is 368 Congress Street, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.caffenero.com/

[May 19 update: According to a Twitter post from Caffe Nero, free coffee will be served until 3:00 PM today at the new shop in Fort Point.]

[Earlier Article]
Caffe Nero to Open in Boston's Fort Point, Longwood Neighborhoods

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Items from Bakeries and Pastry Shops in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Farm-to-Table Restaurant, Deli May Be Coming to Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

It looks like a brand new restaurant and a deli may be coming to the Fenway section of Boston, and it would be located within a residential tower being proposed by the owner of an historic farm west of the city.

The Boston Herald is reporting that Trans National Group Services is looking to develop a 28-story, 340-foot tower where its headquarters currently are (2 Charlesgate West), with owner Steve Belkin planning to open a farm-to-table restaurant that would feature produce and hard cider from Belkin Family Lookout Farm in South Natick, which Belkin also owns. The article says that a deli with baked goods, locally-grown produce, and grab-and-go food items would also be located at the site.

The plans for the residential tower along with the restaurant and deli are in their early stages, as the Trans National Properties division of Trans National Group Services filed a letter of intent with the Boston Redevelopment Authority yesterday.

The Belkin Family Lookout Farm's property dates all the way back to 1651, according to its website, which can be found at http://www.lookoutfarm.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]