GrandTen Distilling to Leave Its Home in South Boston, Plans to Reopen Elsewhere

A distillery and cocktail bar in South Boston going to be saying farewell to its space, though it is looking to open back up in another location.

According to an article from What Now Boston, GrandTen Distilling on Dorchester Avenue is planning to leave its home this fall, saying the following in an Instagram post:

...The truth is that all things must change. Like many businesses, we are facing the challenge of rising costs in the city we love. This has made it increasingly difficult for us to operate from our current location. While it's time to close this chapter, we are not closing the book. Consider this a "see you later," not a goodbye. Our departure is temporary, and GrandTen will return to Boston. In the interim, we will be announcing our new location shortly. With immense gratitude, we thank each and every one of you for your support and for sharing a drink with us. Your visits to our distillery have made our journey unforgettable, and consider this your invitation to join us one more time before we head out.

The post mentions that GrandTen Distilling plans to close after business hours on October 19.

GrandTen Distilling first opened in 2011, adding its cocktail bar in 2016.

The current address for GrandTen Distilling is 383 Dorchester Avenue, Boston, MA, 02127. Its website can be found at https://grandten.com/

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

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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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Flour Bakery + Cafe to Open in the Former J.P. Licks Space in Boston's Mission Hill

A local group of bakery-cafes is planning to open a new location, replacing a now-closed location of a local group of ice cream shops.

According to an article from What Now Boston, Flour Bakery + Cafe is going to be opening in Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood, taking over the former J.P. Licks space at One Brigham Circle on Tremont Street. Once it debuts (possibly around the beginning of 2026), the new location of Flour will join 10 others in and around Boston, including its newest location on Boston Common.

The address for the upcoming Mission Hill location of Flour Bakery + Cafe is 1618 Tremont Street (One Brigham Circle), Boston, MA, 02120. The website for Flour is at https://flourbakery.com/

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

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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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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.)

Jonquil's Cafe and Bakery in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

A bakery-cafe in the Back Bay of Boston has shut down after being in business for approximately six years.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Jonquil's Cafe and Bakery on Newbury Street is closed, with "for lease" signs now up in the windows. Several weeks ago, the business said in an Instagram post that it was "closed until further notice" and to "please stay connected with us through our social media channels or contact us directly," but a subsequent reply indicated that it was not closing for renovations, hinting that it may indeed be a permanent closure which it apparently turned out to be.

The address for the now-closed Jonquil's Cafe and Bakery in the Back Bay was 125 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

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

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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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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.)

Re:Bar to Open in Everett

The people behind a pair of dog parks and bars will be opening a new spot near its original location just north of Boston.

According to a press release, Re:Bar is planning to open in Everett, offering axe throwing, darts, and nerf games, along with bar bites, beer, and cocktails. The upcoming place, which will be located on Norman Street in the same area as Park-9 Dog Bar (which can be found on Waters Avenue), will also serve as a function space for birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and more. A specific opening date has not been given as of yet for Re:Bar, though we are told that it could be opening sometime in early November if all goes as planned.

The team behind Park-9 Dog Bar and the upcoming Re:Bar also run Park-9 at the Fenway, which is located on Boylston Street in Boston.

The address for the upcoming Re:Bar is 73 Norman St (#19A), Everett, MA, 02149. Its website is at https://play-rebar.com/ while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/playrebar/

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

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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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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.)

Gato Exotico to Open at CambridgeSide; Wusong Road Team Behind It

The people behind an award-winning Harvard Square restaurant are planning to open a brand new concept in another part of Cambridge.

According to a press release, Gato Exotico is going to be opening at CambridgeSide in East Cambridge, and Jason Doo (Chef/Owner of Wusong Road) and his team will be operating the place. The upcoming dining spot will focus on Mexican food with influences from different regions of the country, including such options as cochinita pibil slow-roasted in banana leaves from the Yucatán, mole negro from Oaxaca, and the type of ceviche that might be found in Tulum, along with various small plates and street food. The release says that Gato Exotico will also feature cocktails that are made with mezcal and tequila as well as fresh tropical fruits and juices, and they will be served in custom artist-designed glassware. If all goes as planned, the new dining and drinking spot will open later this year.

Wusong Road first opened in Harvard Square in the latter part of 2021, and it has received countless accolades over the past few years including being mentioned as one of the most beautiful restaurants and bars in America by People Magazine.

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

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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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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.)

Restaurant News for the Week Ending September 14, 2025

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between September 8, 2025, and September 14, 2025.

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Capricho Colombian Steakhouse to Open in the Former La Voile Space in Brookline's Washington Square
A South American restaurant is on its way to Brookline, taking over the space where a location of a pair of French restaurants had been until closing several months ago.
Full Story

Elephantine Bakery Opens in Boston's Fort Point Neighborhood
A popular bakery-cafe on the New Hampshire seacoast has expanded to a space by the Boston waterfront.
Full Story

Mai Opens in the Seaport District of Boston
A new fusion restaurant has come to the Boston waterfront.
Full Story

FiDO Pizza Opens in Allston
The group behind several restaurants in Boston's South End has opened a pizza spot in another part of the city.
Full Story

Bodega Canal in Boston's West End Has Closed
A Mexican restaurant in Boston that was known in part for its cocktails and entertainment has shut down, and it isn't known if the place could return.
Full Story

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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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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.)