Boston Restaurant Talk

Friday, March 06, 2026

Ciao Restaurant & Bar in Lynn Has Closed

An Italian restaurant on the North Shore that was known for its pizza, pasta, and cocktails has shut down.

According to a couple of sources along with an article from What Now Boston, Ciao Restaurant & Bar in Lynn is no longer in business, with an Instagram post from the Sutton Street spot confirming this while also indicating that new owners are taking over the space, saying that "we prepare to pass this business into new hands in the coming months." The restaurant first opened in the spring of 2021, offering such items as pizza, arancini, chicken parmigiana, gnocchi with shredded pork shoulder, rigatoni bolognese, cavatappi con pesto, and fettucine scampi.

The address for the now-closed Ciao Restaurant & Bar was 41 Sutton Street, Lynn, MA, 01904.

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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]

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Waffle & Bagel to Open at the Burlington Mall

A new fast-casual restaurant that focuses on breakfast will be coming to the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Waffle & Bagel is planning to open at the Burlington Mall, with a page within the bcattv.org website and an article from the Daily Times Chronicle saying that it will take over the former Dunkin' space in the mall. The upcoming eatery will feature handheld Belgian Liège-style waffles as well as bagels, bagel sandwiches, fruit cups, and coffee, and it appears that this will be a takeout spot that will not have seating.

If all goes as planned, Waffle & Bagel could be opening late this spring or early in the summer.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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.)

Two Saints Tavern in Boston Is Closing

A Boston bar popular with college students is shutting down.

According to an article from boston.com, Two Saints Tavern on Gainsborough Street is closing its doors this weekend, with managing partner Chuck Hitchcock saying that "The younger generations are drinking less. They're socializing less. Everybody can afford a 75 inch TV in the dorm room now, they don't need to go out and go to a social hangout to watch the football game, and things are getting more expensive." Hitchcock goes on to state that the closure stems from increasing insurance costs, mentioning that "The liability insurance structure in this state and many others is broken. Our insurance carrier was canceling us, and it's getting out of business as a whole....The system is broken, but it's not their fault"

Two Saints Tavern first opened in 2018 in the former Our House East space, being frequented by Northeastern students over the years.

The address for Two Saints Tavern is 52 Gainsborough Street, Boston, MA, 02115.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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.)

Formosa Bun & Dumpling Factory Opens in Newton Centre

Last spring, it was reported that a Taiwanese restaurant featuring dumpling and more was coming to the western suburbs of Boston, and now we have learned that it has debuted.

A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston states that Formosa Bun & Dumpling Factory is now open in Newton Centre, and as mentioned in an earlier article here, it has taken over the former Jake's Falafel Corner space on Beacon Street. A BC Heights article confirms its opening, indicating that the new dining spot offers Taiwanese street food items, with the menu for the place showing options such as dumplings, bao, ramen, yakisoba, and beef noodle soup.

The address for Formosa Bun & Dumpling Factory is 740 A Beacon Street, Newton, MA, 02459. Its website can be found at https://formosabun.com/

[Earlier Article]
Formosa Bun & Dumpling Factory Plans to Open in the Former Jake's Falafel Corner Space in Newton Centre

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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, March 05, 2026

Cafe Noodo Opens by North Station in Boston

A brand new noodle shop has debuted in Boston.

According to an article from boston.com, Cafe Noodo is now open by North Station and TD Garden in the city's West End, moving into a space on Nashua Street by Kicco Italian Coffee and Avalon North Station. The menu for the place features hand-pulled noodles including such options as Lanzhou beef noodle soup, tomato and egg noodles, and teriyaki chicken noodles, along with such small bites as seaweed salad, lamb skewers, and five-spice crispy tofu along with boba milk tea.

The address for Cafe Noodo is 1 Nashua Street, Boston, MA, 02114. The Instagram page for the eatery can be found at https://www.instagram.com/cafenoodo/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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.)

Cilantro's Mexican Grill to Open in the Former Smashburger Space in Medford

A couple of months ago, it was reported that a Boston-area location of a Colorado-based chain of quick-casual burger restaurants had closed, and now we have learned what is going into its space.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Cilantro's Mexican Grill is planning to open in Medford, moving into the space on Riverside Avenue that had been home to a location of Smashburger. It appears that this will be another location of the Cilantro's Mexican Grill that resides in the Village Park Shopping Center on Main Street in Saugus and which serves such items as burritos, chimichangas, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, rice bowls, and more.

The Medford location of Smashburger had been in the space from 2015 until the latter part of 2025.

The address for the upcoming location of Cilantro's Mexican Grill in Medford is495 Riverside Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155. The website for the Saugus location is at https://cilantrosmexgrill.com/

[Earlier Article]
Smashburger in Medford Has Closed

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[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.)