Boston Restaurant Talk: February 2021

Friday, February 26, 2021

Tim and Bronwyn Wiechmann to Open Turenne in Former Real/Lincoln Kitchen/AKA Bistro Space in Lincoln

The husband-and-wife team behind two popular dining spots in Somerville are now looking to open a new restaurant in a western suburb with very few dining options.

According to the Tables section of The Boston Globe, Tim and Bronwyn Wiechmann (Bronwyn, T&B Pizza) are planning to open Turenne in Lincoln, taking over the space on Lincoln Road that had been home to Real and before that, Lincoln Kitchen and AKA Bistro. The post says that the new spot will be an offshoot of a takeout/delivery-only popup restaurant/bakery by the same name in Somerville's Union Square that resides within the T&B Pizza space (T&B is currently hibernating), and that the Lincoln eatery will include a wine shop, provisions, and live music while possibly offering such options as Montreal-style bagels, pastries, breads, charcuterie, pizza, smoothies, coffee, tea, and more depending on how similar the menu will be to that of the Somerville location.

The website for Turenne describes the Lincoln location as a second home for Turenne that will be "a country manor and garden," while the Globe post says that it hopes to soft-open on April 1.

The address for the upcoming location of Turenne in Lincoln is 145 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA, 01773. The website for the Somerville location is at https://www.turennelife.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Central Grill in Woburn Is Closing

A Brazilian restaurant in the northern suburbs is getting ready to close permanently.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via a Patch article), Central Grill in Woburn is shutting down for good on Sunday, with the article hinting that the pandemic may have had something to do with its decision to close. The Main Street eatery, which opened approximately 10 years ago, has been known for its Brazilian buffet while offering such options as wings, burgers, pasta dishes, seafood, and flan.

The address for Central Grill is 315 Main Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. Its website can be found at https://www.centralgrillcafe.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Love Art Sushi Opens in Downtown Boston

A couple of years ago, it was reported that the people behind the "Love Art" restaurants in Boston would be opening a new location in the downtown section of the city, and now we have learned that while the original concept (and name) has changed a bit, it is now open.

According to a press release, Love Art Sushi has debuted on Water Street in the Congress Square development, with the new eatery offering sushi bowls along with poke options as well. (The original plan had been to open as Love Art Poke and focus on Hawaiian-style raw fish salads.) In addition to sushi bowls and poke, diners are also able to order "Makirittos" (a combination maki/burrito dish) as well as an array of gluten-free and vegan options, and a premium sushi bento program will be available for special order as individualized catering dishes for organizations and offices starting in late April if all goes as planned.

Other restaurants from the Love Art Udon team include Poke by Love Art near North Station and another location of Love Art Sushi in the Fenway/Back Bay.

The address for this new location of Love Art Sushi in downtown Boston is 40 Water Street, Boston, MA, 02109. Its website can be found at https://loveartsushi.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Del's Lemonade Is Opening in Arlington

A legendary frozen lemonade company is bringing a second location to the Greater Boston area--and its closest shop to Boston itself.

According to a source, Del's Lemonade is looking to open a new outlet in Arlington, with Wicked Local/Arlington Advocate indicating what our source told us, that the shop would come to a space on Mass. Ave. in Brattle Square. The article mentions that the outlet will be a walkup window where customers can order Del's frozen lemonade along with such items as hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, ice cream, and "fair-style food and sweets." It appears that the shop could be having its grand opening in May, though the original plan had been to open in April.

Del's, which was founded in 1948 in Cranston, RI, can mostly be found in Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts, with the only shop currently in the Greater Boston area being in Cohasset.

The address for the new location of Del's Lemonade in Arlington is 1050 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476. The website for the company can be found at https://dels.com/

[July 29 update: A post from Your Arlington from earlier this month mentions that Del's had been hoping to open its Arlington location in early July, but that they had been waiting on window hinges before they can open--and a recent check on the space indicates that they are still not open as of yet.]

[August 24 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Del's Lemonade is now open in Arlington.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Glasser Coffee Company Opens in Brighton

A brand new coffee shop has come to a Boston neighborhood.

According to a post within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Glasser Coffee Company is now open in Brighton, with the Washington Street spot being located in Oak Square and offering breakfast tacos and bowls, overnight oats/granola, pastries, and coffee, with more breakfast options and lunch items eventually on the way as well. The people behind the new store are Alex and Sarah Kim, who established the company in the middle of 2020 according to its website. (Alex is the owner and founder and Sarah is the manager and head barista.)

The address for Glasser Coffee Company is 589 Washington Street, Brighton, MA, 02135. Its website can be found at https://www.glassercoffee.co/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Baker Administration to Remove Maximum Restaurant Capacity Restrictions, Allow Live Music in Restaurants

Earlier this month, the Baker Administration adjusted the maximum capacity for restaurants in Massachusetts upward a bit, and now the restrictions will be lifted (though with distancing restrictions still in place)--and music will also be able to return to dining spots.

In today's update, Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito stated that the state will move into Phase 3, Step 2, where restaurants will no longer have maximum capacity restrictions beginning Monday, March 1 (the six-foot distancing rule will continue, however), while the maximum table size will remain at 6 and a time limit of 90 minutes for diners will remain in place as well. Baker and Polito also said that live music will be allowed at restaurants once again, along with music venues being able to open at 50% capacity with no more than 500 people as of March 1. In addition, as long as public health data allows, the state will move into Phase 4, Step 1 as of March 22, including venues having a capacity of 5,000 or more (including TD Garden, Fenway Park, and Gillette Stadium) being allowed to reopen at 12% maximum capacity starting that day. (Bars, nightclubs, and food courts will remain closed for now, according to Baker.)

[February 27 update: Universal Hub reports that the city of Boston is going to hold off on allowing live music in restaurants and smaller venues, looking instead at March 22 rather than March 1 "if public health data allows."]

[Earlier Article]
Baker Administration Increases Maximum Restaurant Capacity to 40% Starting February 8

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

The Painted Burro Is Replacing Osteria Posto in Waltham

An upscale Italian restaurant in the western suburbs is going to become a new location of a Mexican dining spot that is under the same ownership.

According to a source, Osteria Posto in Waltham is being replaced by The Painted Burro, with a Facebook post from The Waltham Channel mentioning that owner Joseph Cassinelli told the license commission this week that "I've been struggling up there for years to get enough people into that location" while saying that that concept was "too fine dining." The new outlet of The Painted Burro--whose original location is in Somerville's Davis Square--will be more casual than Osteria Posto, though it plans to be "a higher end version of what's in Somerville." It is not known when The Painted Burro might open in the Osteria Posto space, so keep checking back for updates.

Somerville's location of The Painted Burro is currently shut down for the winter, while the original Posto in Davis Square and another outlet of Posto in Bedford remain open.

The address for the new Painted Burro in Waltham is 99 3rd Avenue, Waltham, MA, 02451. The website for The Painted Burro in Somerville is at https://www.thepaintedburro.com/

[June 2 update: According to its website, The Painted Burro is now open in Waltham.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

1928 Beacon Hill Is Opening in the Former Lala Rokh Space

A bit less than a year ago, it was reported that a new restaurant might be coming to a space in a residential part of Beacon Hill, and now we have learned that these plans appear to have fallen through, as new plans for a dining spot are now in the works there.

According to an article from Universal Hub, antiques dealer Kristin Jenkins is looking to open an as-of-yet unnamed "neighborhood American bistro" in the old Lala Rokh space on Mount Vernon Street, while her life partner (and local restaurateur) Aaron Sells will be helping out as well. The post mentions that the proposed eatery will have "the ambiance of a private club" and that the menu will include steak, seafood, and pasta dishes as well as beer and classic cocktails.

Last March, it looked like an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant called Il Maestro might open in the Lala Rokh space, though that never came to be. (Lala Rokh, which featured Persian fare, closed down in 2018.)

The address for this new restaurant in Beacon Hill is 97 Mount Vernon Street, Boston, MA, 02108. Its website is at https://1928beaconhill.com/

[August 3 update: A tweet from @BOSFoodTours indicates that a sign is now up for the upcoming restaurant and that it will be called 1928 Beacon Hill, while a check at the site itself over the weekend confirms this as well.]

[December 16 update: The website for the place indicates that 1928 Beacon Hill is now open and its menu includes such items as deviled eggs, warm olives, tuna tartare, oven roasted chicken, arctic char, cacio e pepe, braised short ribs, and a variety of beers, wines, and cocktails.]

[Earlier Article]
Ron Suhanosky to Open Il Maestro in Boston's Beacon Hill, Turn Chef Ronsky's in Chestnut Hill into Wine Shop

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Quebrada Baking Company Is Opening in Watertown

It looks like a trio of bakeries in the western suburbs will be joined by a fourth shop, with this one also being west of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Quebrada Baking Company appears to be opening in Watertown, with a picture showing a Quebrada truck outside an Orchard Street structure that had been home to an auto repair shop, while a sign for the bakery is also shown in the window. A real estate listing for the space also comes up when doing a search for the bakery, saying that the property has been sold. Once the new shop opens, it will join other locations in Arlington, Belmont, and Wellesley, and based on those stores, expect to see breads, pastries, desserts, coffee, and more at the new place.

The address for the new location of Quebrada Baking Company is 281 Orchard Street, Watertown, MA, 02472. The website for the existing locations can be found at https://www.quebradabakingco.com/

[May 2, 2022 update: According to its website, the new location of Quebrada in Watertown has opened.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine Is Opening in the Former Toichi Ichiban Space in Brookline

A brand new Mediterranean restaurant is on its way to a mostly residential section of Brookline, replacing a Japanese dining spot that was in the space for a bit more than five years.

According to an article from Wicked Local, Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine is opening on Kendall Street (just south of Route 9 in the Pill Hill section of town), taking over the old Toichi Ichiban space. The post says that the new restaurant will offer a variety of Turkish and Mediterranean entrees and meze dishes, with the article mentioning salads, stuffed grape leaves, moussaka, and baklava.

Wicked Local indicates that the business partners behind Dolma have connections to other local spots, with Yesim Otsuz and Serkan Otsuz being involved with Yesim's Kitchen in Waltham and Selim Gurel owning the now-closed Angora Cafe in Brookline and Angora Ice in Chestnut Hill.

The address for Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine is 5 Kendall Street, Brookline, MA, 02445.

[March 18 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine is now open.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Brothers Restaurant in Brookline Is Being Replaced by Vello Restaurant and Bar

An eclectic restaurant in Brookline is becoming home to a new dining spot, though some of the offerings from the previous place could be offered at the new eatery.

According to an article from Wicked Local, Brothers Restaurant on Harvard Street is changing to Vello Restaurant and Bar, with the new owners planning to feature dishes with Latin influences. The post mentions that the new owners had initially considered keeping the Brothers name, while the attorney for the soon-to-open restaurant says that the owners may continue to offer some of the old menu items from there, saying that "certainly want to keep the existing customers happy but also introduce some new dishes."

Brothers first opened in 2015, featuring a mix of Italian, Mexican, and American dishes along with beer, wine and cocktails.

The address for the new Vello Restaurant and Bar is 404 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446.

[March 3 update: According to a Twitter post from the place, Vello Restaurant and Bar is now open.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Island Creek Oyster Bar in Burlington to Become Row 34

A week after it was reported that its Boston location will not be reopening, we have learned that the Burlington outlet of a seafood restaurant will be going away as well, though it will be replaced by a dining spot with a familiar name.

According to an article from Wicked Local/Burlington Union, Island Creek Oyster Bar within The District Burlington development is going to be reconcepted into a new location of Row 34, with partner Shore Gregory mentioning that "it is no surprise to say it has been an enormously challenging year for the restaurant industry" and that they have "determined a change of operator would best position the restaurant for success." The post states that Row 34--whose original location can be found in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood--will also focus on seafood, though it will be more of a family-friendly restaurant with an "approachable" price point. (If all goes as planned, Row 34 will debut around May 1.)

In addition to Island Creek Oyster Bar announcing that its Kenmore Square location was closed, two other affiliated spots within the same space--Eastern Standard and The Hawthorne--have decided to shut down as well.

The website for Island Creek Oyster Bar is at https://www.islandcreekoysterbar.com/ while the website for the original location of Row 34 is at https://www.row34.com/

[February 26 update: A press release mentions that the partners behind Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34, Branch Line in Watertown, and Eastern Standard Provisions have decided to separate, with Chef Jeremy Sewall and Shore Gregory being the sole partners behind Row 34, Garrett Harker running Branch Line and Eastern Standard Provisions, and Skip Bennett continuing to develop a new working waterfront on Duxbury Bay, while the Island Creek Oyster Bar brand apparently goes away.]

[May 7 update: According to a new press release, Row 34 plans to open in Burlington on May 8.]

Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar in Boston's Kenmore Square Plan to Transfer Their Licenses to UrbanMeritage

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Nomai Is Opening at Derby Street Shops in Hingham

The person behind two popular restaurants in Boston's Chinatown will be opening a new concept on the South Shore.

According to a press release, Nomai is opening at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham, with Brian Moy (Shojo, Ruckus) being the owner of the upcoming spot. Very little information on the upcoming dining spot has been given as of yet other than the fact that it plans to open in the late spring; in addition, as posted here earlier, Moy is also opening a new location of Shojo in Cambridge's Central Square area this fall. (A third location of the Asian eatery can also be found at Logan Airport.)

The website for Nomai will be at https://www.nomaihingham.com/ while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/nomai.hingham/

[January 24, 2022 update: Eater Boston mentions that Nomai is now open in Hingham (dinner only), and it offers New American fare with Asian influences including such dishes as koji fried chicken with ginger-green scallion sauce, rainbow slaw, and Hainanese rice; Japanese crab risotto with black truffle; sea scallops with bacon jam, shishito pepper, yam, and kumquat; and wild halibut with rice noodles, red cabbage, peanuts, dill, and turmeric.]

[Earlier Article]
Shojo to Open in Cambridge's Central Square Area

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Ryal Side Cafe in Beverly Has Closed

A North Shore eatery has shut down permanently after more than 22 years in business.

According to a source (Bob Nelson), Ryal Side Cafe in Beverly has closed for good, with a Facebook post that was shared saying that it was "Not because of COVID or because of any difficulties or failures, but instead because [the owner] decided, on her own terms, to sell it and begin a new chapter in her life." The Bridge Street dining spot was known for its breakfasts including omelets, bacon and eggs, pancakes, French toast, eggs benedict, breakfast sandwiches, house-made toast, and more.

The address for the now-closed Ryal Side Cafe was 119 Bridge Street, Beverly, MA, 01915.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Shojo to Open in Cambridge's Central Square Area

A restaurant in Boston's Chinatown that features inventive takes on Asian food is expanding across the river.

According to a press release, Shojo is planning to open in Cambridge, moving into a space on Mass. Ave. on the eastern edge of Central Square. The email mentions that the new location of the dining spot will offer modern takes on Southeast Asian dishes along with cocktails and Japanese spirits, and that it hopes to open sometime this fall, joining its original location on Tyler Street along with another at Logan Airport.

The person behind Shojo--Brian Moy--also runs Ruckus, a pan-Asian noodle bar in Chinatown that is currently closed for the time being (Shojo in Chinatown is also temporarily closed).

The address for the upcoming Shojo in Cambridge is 425 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139. The website for Shojo can be found at https://www.shojoboston.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Mamaleh's in Cambridge's Kendall Square Is Opening a New Location in Brookline

A Cambridge deli is expanding to Brookline.

According to an article from boston.com, Mamaleh's Delicatessen in Kendall Square will be joined by a new location on Beacon Street in Brookline's Washington Square area, with the place taking over the space where a location of Dunkin' had been. The post says that the new outlet, which is currently crowdfunding with the help of Boston-based NuMarket, will be a counter-service spot with a menu that will be mostly the same as that of the Cambridge restaurant, while some table seating will be set up eventually. If all goes as planned, the new location of Mamaleh's could open early this summer.

The Kendall Square location of Mamaleh's debuted in the summer of 2016, with the team behind it also running Cafe du Pays and State Park in the Kendall Square area.

The address for the new location of Mamaleh's in Washington Square is 1659 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02445. The website for the original location can be found at https://mamalehs.com/

[August 5 update: An article from the Brookline Tab and Wicked local mentions that the Brookline location of Mamaleh's is now open.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Monday, February 22, 2021

Blue Salt Restaurant Is Opening in the Former La Tate Mexican Restaurant Space in West Newton

A new dining spot is on its way to the western suburbs of Boston, moving into a space that had been home to a Mexican eatery.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Blue Salt Restaurant is planning to open in the space in West Newton where La Tate Mexican Restaurant was until closing in 2019. Very little is known about the upcoming Washington Street spot, as its website seems to have placeholder pages in it right now, though the "About Us" section mentions that the restaurant apparently plans to offer "classics like burger and steak" along with "Eastern-European inspired dishes." An earlier licensing meeting agenda page within the city's website says that Igor Burukhin will be the manager, which is apparently the same Igor Burukhin who runs Boston Gourmet Foods/Igor Catering; as soon as we find out more about Blue Salt, we will post an update here.

The address for Blue Salt is 1255 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465. The website for the restaurant is at https://www.bluesaltrestaurant.com/ while the website for Boston Gourmet Foods/Igor Catering is at https://www.igorcatering.com/

[August 26 update: According to a tweet from @deedubya, Blue Salt is now open, with its menu showing such options as borscht, Brazilian seafood stew, baked brie, blintzes, shish kabob, lamb chops, and carbonara.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

La Neta Opens in Boston's Back Bay

A brand new taco shop that has been a long time in the making has opened in a busy part of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, La Neta is now open in the Back Bay, with the Newbury Street eatery offering a wide variety of tacos along with burritos, tortas, enchiladas, quesadillas, and more. As mentioned in an earlier article, Allan Rodriguez (El Centro, La Catrina) is behind the new restaurant, which was first mentioned back in the early part of 2019.

The address for La Neta is 255 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. Its website can be found at http://lanetataco.com/

[Earlier Article]
La Neta Plans to Open in Boston's Back Bay

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

The Langham Hotel in Downtown Boston Reopens This Summer; Will Include New Restaurant, Bar

An historic hotel in the heart of Boston that shut down for renovations a couple of years ago is finally getting close to opening back up, and it will feature a new restaurant and a new bar.

Eater Boston is reporting (via The Boston Globe) that The Langham Boston at One Post Office Square plans to reopen in June and that it will be home to an Italian restaurant called Grana that will initially be open for breakfast, lunch, and a weekend brunch. In addition, a bar called the Fed will also open within the hotel, while in-room private dining will be an option for guests.

The Langham, which closed for renovations in the spring of 2019, had previously been home to BOND, The Reserve, and Cafe Fleuri while also having chocolate bar brunches as well.

The website for The Langham Boston can be found at https://www.langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/boston/

[March 12 update: According to an article in The Boston Globe, the chocolate bar will not be returning to The Langham Boston, as the space will become a ballroom, but a spokesperson for the hotel indicates that "vestiges of the chocolate will appear on restaurant menus."]

[July 1 update: According to a press release, The Langham Boston is now open, with The Fed slated to open on July 12.]

[July 13 update: Eater Boston confirms that The Fed is now open, with the space having the feel of a British pub and the food and drink offerings having regional influences including a seafood tower, stuffies, lobster BLTs, and local beer and cider options while cocktails include spiked frappes.]

[September 9 update: According to the web page for the restaurant, Grana is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
BOND, The Reserve in the Langham Hotel to Be Replaced by New Restaurants; Ballroom to Take Over Cafe Fleuri's Space

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

The Studio Kitchen in Kingston Is Looking to Move to Las Vegas

An interactive cooking show and dining spot on the South Shore is planning to be reborn on the other side of the country.

According to an article from WCVB 5, The Studio Kitchen at The Kingston Collection in Kingston is hoping to move to Las Vegas, with owner Jim Cafarelli saying that the pandemic--which led to the closure of the shared Studio Kitchen/Bar Rustic space late last summer--is the reasoning behind the proposed move, stating that "COVID is, in my opinion, like the final nail in the coffin." Cafarelli and his son are currently looking to raise money for the rebirth of the business, mentioning that it is "Not a hard decision....You get to the point where you don't even know where the bottom is, so you have a decision to make: How deep do I want to go in debt? Once you remove the emotion from the decision, it's pretty clear what you need to do" while also saying that Las Vegas will open back up more quickly than much of the rest of the country and that the cooking/entertainment concept of The Studio Kitchen would fit in very well in Vegas.

In addition to The Studio Kitchen and Bar Rustic, Cafarelli was also behind Rustic Kitchen in Hingham, which closed toward the end of 2019.

The website for The Studio Kitchen can be found at https://www.startengine.com/studiokitchen

[Earlier Article]
Bar Rustic in Kingston Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Polish Prince Pierogi Is Opening in the Former Roma Bakery Space in North Billerica

A local vendor that offers a popular comfort food item will be opening a brick-and-mortar location in the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a source (Aron Levy), Polish Prince Pierogi is planning to open in the former Roma Bakery space on Boston Road in North Billerica, with an Instagram post from the business saying that "You might have noticed that our event and delivery schedule has slowed down quite a bit. Well...we'd finally like to share why. It's because we have sped up the build out of our new kitchen and storefront!" No opening date has been given as of yet, with the post saying to "stayed tuned for progress updates and more details."

Polish Prince Pierogi currently sells its pierogi at farmers markets as well as online, with an array of meat, veggie/starch, seafood, and dessert fillings offered.

The address for the storefront for Polish Prince Pierogi is 306 Boston Road (Routes 3A/129), North Billerica, MA, 01862. Its website can be found at https://www.polishprince.com/

[May 20 update: According to a Facebook post from the place, the brick-and-mortar location of Polish Prince Pierogi soft-opened last weekend, with more details on its opening apparently coming this week.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

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OTTO Pizza Is Opening in Boston's South End

A small group of pizzerias specializing in gourmet thin-crust pies continues to expand, with a new one on its way to a Boston neighborhood.

According to a message sent from @HeyRatty, OTTO Pizza is opening in the South End, with a Facebook thread from the South End Community Board and an Instagram post from OTTO itself confirming that it will indeed be coming to a space on Harrison Avenue across from the Ink Block development. Once it opens, the new outlet will join others in Andover, Arlington, Boston/Brookline (BU area), Brookline's Coolidge Corner, Cambridge's Harvard Square, Lynnfield, Newburyport, and South Boston as well as a handful of locations in Maine, where it first started out.

The address for the new location of OTTO Pizza in the South End is 345 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118. The website for all locations is at https://www.ottoportland.com/

[May 21 update: According to a press release, the South End location of OTTO is now open.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Shaking Seafood Plans to Open in Dorchester

It looks like a Cajun-style seafood restaurant in a Boston neighborhood is planning to open a new location in another part of the city.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website, Shaking Seafood is looking to open in Dorchester, moving into a space on Dorchester Avenue a short distance south of Fields Corner. The manager listed is Shi Zhong Lin, which indicates that this restaurant is indeed connected to Shaking Seafood in Roslindale, based on an earlier licensing board hearing page from 2018 when that place opened.

The address for the upcoming Shaking Seafood in Dorchester is 1616 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02122. The website for the original location in Roslindale is http://www.shakingseafood.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Tradesman Is Opening in Charlestown

A coffee shop and lounge in downtown Boston is looking to expand to a space in a part of Charlestown with few dining options.

According to a licensing hearing page within the city's website, Tradesman is planning to open on Hood Park Drive, moving into a space within The Harvey apartment development just south of Sullivan Square. An article from the Charlestown Bridge mentions that Mark Grzelak and Mevzad Durakovic of Tradesman in the Hilton hotel on Broad Street are behind the proposed spot, which would be a coffee shop in the morning and a full-service restaurant at lunch and dinner while also having a bar and an outdoor patio.

In addition to Tradesman, Grzelak and Durakovic also run Louie's and Fin Point Oyster Bar + Grille in downtown Boston.

The address for Tradesman in Charlestown is 50 Hood Park Drive, Charlestown, MA, 02129. The website for the original Tradesman can be found at http://www.tradesmanboston.com/

[December 10 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, the Charlestown location of Tradesman is in the middle of a soft opening, with the Instagram page for the place saying that an official opening is planned for Tuesday, December 14.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

The Hawthorne in Boston's Kenmore Square Has Closed Permanently

A day after learning that two of Boston's best-known restaurants will not be reopening, it has now been reported that a beloved cocktail bar with a connection to both places has shut down permanently as well.

According to an article from The Boston Globe, The Hawthorne within the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square has closed for good, joining Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar which have also shuttered. The post does say what we mentioned yesterday, that the Burlington location of ICOB will remain in operation.

As mentioned yesterday, Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar are both planning to transfer their liquor licenses to UrbanMeritage, while a post from @HeyRatty showed a virtual meeting taking place in which Garrett Harker is listed as being the "former" owner of Eastern Standard; the notice states that he is also the "former" owner of The Hawthorne, but we could not confirm at the time that the bar was indeed closed for good.

The address for The Hawthorne was 500 A Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

[Earlier Article]
Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar in Boston's Kenmore Square Plan to Transfer Their Licenses to UrbanMeritage

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

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Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar in Boston's Kenmore Square Will Not Reopen; Transferring Their Licenses to UrbanMeritage

It looks like two of Boston's best-known restaurants are done, as they will be transferring their licenses to the company that owns the property.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar within the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square are seeking to transfer their liquor licenses to UMNVAG Kenmore, LLC, with the prospective manager listed for both being Michael Jammen of UrbanMeritage (which owns the retail properties of the hotel). Neither listing mentions a DBA, while both give a closing hour of 2:00 AM, which indicates that the spaces could continue on as restaurants but it is not yet known what restaurants might move in or who might be running them. This news comes on the heels of @HeyRatty posting about a virtual meeting taking place in which Garrett Harker is listed as being the "former" owner of Eastern Standard.

Last spring, it was reported that the future of Eastern Standard was in question, though the exact status of the restaurant has been in limbo ever since then and both Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar have been shuttered during the pandemic. (The Burlington location of the latter is open, however.)

The address for Eastern Standard is 528 Commonwealth Avenue while the address for Island Creek Oyster Bar is 500 Commonwealth Avenue.

[February 18 update: A Boston Globe article confirms that Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar in Kenmore Square have permanently closed.]

[Earlier Article]
The Future of Eastern Standard in Boston's Kenmore Square Appears to Be in Question

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

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Bonfire Indian Grill Is Opening in Waltham

A brand new Indian restaurant is on its way to the western suburbs of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Bonfire Indian Grill will soon be opening in Waltham, moving into a space on Lexington Street just south of the Lexington border. The website for the dining spot indicates that it will focus at least in part on South Indian fare while being a fast casual place that will also offer catering.

Bonfire has apparently been in the works for quite awhile, as a Hungry Onion post shows a comment on it that dates all the way back to the summer of 2019.

The address for Bonfire Indian Grill is 1091 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA, 02451. Its website is at https://www.bonfireindiangrill.com/

[March 10 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Bonfire Indian Grill has its grand opening today.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

The OkiPoké Is Opening at MarketStreet Lynnfield

A pair of poke shops will soon be opening a third location in the local area, with this one coming to a mixed-use development north of Boston.

According to an article in the Boston Real Estate Times, The OkiPoké is planning to open at MarketStreet Lynnfield, joining two other outlets in Burlington and Westford. Based on the menus at those spots, expect to see poke bowls, burritos, and salads, while the article says that ramen dishes will be offered as well. If all goes as planned, the new location of The OkiPoké will be opening this spring.

Several other restaurants and food spots are on their way to MarketStreet Lynnfield as well, including Alchemy (a New American restaurant that used to be in Gloucester) and GFG Cafe, which will offer Greek fare.

The address for The OkiPoké is at https://theokipoke.com/

[May 24 update: A press release mentions that the MarketStreet Lynnfield location of The OkiPoké is now open.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)