Boston Restaurant Talk

Friday, December 19, 2025

Rogue Kitchen + Provisions/Flip the Bird at Cummings Center in Beverly Has Closed

A local group of dining spots in the northern suburbs of Boston that focus in part on fried chicken sandwiches has closed one of its locations.

According to an Instagram post, Rogue Kitchen + Provisions/Flip the Bird at Cummings Center in Beverly has shut down, with the post mentioning "suffering through the aftermath of the pandemic and trying to operate a restaurant in an office park" while also saying the following:

I had too much to say in a text box, so I made a story for everyone who's had questions about why we're no longer at our Cummings Center location. It's worn many hats over the year (Marino's Cafe, The Hatchery, Flip The Bird Cafe @ Cummings, and last but not least Rogue Kitchen + Provisions) but myself and Anthony have been the ones behind each concept....We also want to give a HUGE shout out thank you to everyone who helped us in our final days, it was a heavy load to carry and short window to get it done, we couldn't have done this without you and we'll never be able to repay your kindness.

The Cummings Center location of Marino's Cafe/The Hatchery/Flip The Bird Cafe/Rogue Kitchen + Provisions got its start more than 10 years ago, with other locations of Flip the Bird currently in operation in Beverly (Cabot Street), Danvers, and Swampscott.

The address for the now-closed Rogue Kitchen + Provisions/Flip the Bird was 100 Cummings Center Suite 107P, Beverly, MA, 01915. The website for all locations is at https://flipthebirdfriedchicken.com/

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

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Sally's Apizza to Open in Weymouth

An award-winning Connecticut pizzeria continues to be in expansion mode, with a location now in the works for the South Shore.

According to a page within the website for the business, Sally's Apizza is planning to open in an as-of-yet undisclosed location in Weymouth, with the page saying that it is one of a handful of "2026 construction starts" that includes a previously announced outlet in Concord. The page also mentions the upcoming location in Boston's Fort Point/Seaport which appears to be ahead of Concord and Weymouth, with the three outlets eventually joining existing locations in Woburn and South Bay.

Sally's Apizza, which first opened in New Haven in 1938, is one of a few pizzerias in that city (including Pepe's and Modern) that are often mentioned among the best pizza spots in the entire country..

The website for Sally's Apizza is at https://sallysapizza.com/

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

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Julianne’s Kitchen & Bar to Open Above the Fruit Center Marketplace in East Milton Square

Last year it was reported that a breakfast and lunch spot that was located above a market just south of Boston was shutting down, and now we have learned that a new restaurant will be moving into the space.

According to an article from What Now Boston (via The Patriot Ledger), Julianne’s Kitchen & Bar is planning to open in East Milton Square in the early part of 2026, taking over the space above the Fruit Center Marketplace that had previously been home to The Plate. The articles mention that the upcoming restaurant will be run by the owners of Fruit Center Marketplace/Milton Marketplace as well as restaurateur Vance Welch (Novara, Abby Park), and it will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, focusing on "elevated comfort classics made with locally sourced ingredients."

In 2016, The Plate moved from its original Central Avenue location in Milton, taking over the space where Marketplace Cafe had been (and before that, A Lighter Fare). It closed down in May of 2024.

The address for the upcoming Julianne’s Kitchen & Bar is 10 Bassett Street, Milton, MA, 02186.

[Earlier Article]
The Plate in Milton Is Closing

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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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Thursday, December 18, 2025

Amarin of Thailand in Wellesley to Return, Opening in a New Location in Newtonville

A popular Thai restaurant that had been in the western suburbs of Boston until closing several months ago is being reborn in a new location west of--and bit closer to--the city.

According to an article from What Now Boston, Amarin of Thailand is planning to reopen after saying farewell to its Wellesley home in July due to its lease expiring, moving into a new space on Walnut Street in Newtonville. The article mentions that the new location of the Thai restaurant will apparently be much like the old location, with a business partner telling What Now Boston earlier that "It's going to be under the same name, you know, same corporation, same website, same everything."

Amarin of Thailand first opened on Grove Street in Wellesley in 1987.

The address for the new location of Amarin of Thailand is 313 Walnut Street, Newtonville, MA, 02460.

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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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Maple & High to Open in Waltham, Replacing Da Vinci Ristorante

A new restaurant that will focus at least in part on BBQ is on its way to the western suburbs of Boston, and it will be taking over the space where an Italian dining spot currently resides.

According to a source, Maple & High is planning to open in Waltham, moving into the space on Moody Street that is home to Da Vinci Ristorante. A Facebook post from The Waltham Channel mentions that executive chef/business partner Dan Lane comes from Bison County, a barbecue joint that had once been located on Moody Street, while fellow business partner Michael Culpo (who comes from The Tack Room in Lincoln) says that he and Lane will be offering cuisine that is "American fare with [a] barbecue twist to it."

Da Vinci Ristorante has been in operation for approximately three years, with Charcoal Guido's previously being in the space.

The address for the upcoming Maple & High is 482 Moody Street, Waltham, MA, 02453.

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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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Venchi Opens in Boston's Back Bay

A chocolate company that got its start in Italy nearly 150 years ago has opened its first shop in Boston.

According to a press release, Venchi is now open in the city's Back Bay neighborhood, moving into a space on Newbury Street beneath Diptyque. The new store offers such items as Italian chocolates, hot chocolate, gelato, and crepes, and it is the 20th location to open in the United States (and its first in Massachusetts). Venchi, which started out in Turin in 1878, today features more than 350 chocolate recipes and 90 gelato flavors.

The address for Venchi in the Back Bay is 123 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the company is at https://us.venchi.com/

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

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.)