Boston Restaurant Talk

Friday, June 27, 2025

Cava Opens in Beverly

A Washington, D.C.-based chain of fast-casual Mediterranean spots has opened yet another location in the Greater Boston area, with this one being its first on the North Shore.

According to its website, Cava is now open in Beverly, moving into a space in the North Beverly Plaza on Dodge Street and offering such options as bowls, pitas, salads, and more. The new outlet joins others in Boston, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Dedham, Framingham, Hanover, Hingham, Mansfield, and North Andover, and new locations are being planned for Braintree, Burlington, and Quincy as well.

The address for the new location of Cava in Beverly is 47 Dodge Street, Beverly, MA, 01915. The website for all locations is at https://cava.com/

(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]

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Au Chocolat in Downtown Boston Is Closing

A chocolate shop in the heart of Boston is shutting down.

According to a Bluesky post from Adam of @conciergeboston.bsky.social, Au Chocolat is planning to close its doors today, with an email sent from Adam indicating that the owner is retiring. The High Street shop is known for its Belgian chocolates (including Neuhaus chocolates) along with a variety of candies and other sweet treats and desserts.

The address for Au Chocolat is 35 High Street, Boston, MA, 02110. Its website can be found at https://treats.net/

(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.)

Noodle Lab Reopens at Boston Public Market

A noodle spot in downtown Boston has very quietly opened back up.

According to a source, Noodle Lab is open once again at Boston Public Market, with a licensing board page within the city's website confirming this while a Reddit thread mentions that it reopened about a week ago. The business, which debuted in 2015 with the opening of the marketplace, offers ramen dishes, rice bowls, and such small bites as gyoza, bao, and wontons.

The website for Noodle Lab can be found at https://noodlelabboston.com/

(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, June 26, 2025

Vita Bella Ristorante in Essex Has Closed

An Italian restaurant on the North Shore has closed its doors.

According to a Facebook thread within the Essex, MA--Notices and Issues Facebook group page, Vita Bella Ristorante is no longer in business, with an auction page confirming this, saying "Vita Bella Ristorante Restaurant Auction" and "Restaurant closing down permanently" while showing the location of the auction as the address of the dining spot. (A check on its website indicates that it has been taken down, as has its Facebook page.) Vita Bella first opened in the summer of 2023, taking over the space where Windward Grille had previously been.

The address for the now-closed Vita Bella Ristorante was 109 Eastern Avenue (Route 133), Essex, MA, 01929.

(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.)

Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom in Winthrop Has Closed

A brewery just north of Boston has closed its doors.

According to a Bluesky post from @jeremyk.bsky.social, Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom in Winthrop is no longer in business, with the website for the brewery confirming this, saying the following:

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to the loyal patrons, our amazing community, and the many friends who made this adventure unforgettable. You filled our taproom with laughter, conversation, and support from day one — and we are truly grateful for every pint poured, every trivia night, every festival, and every moment shared. Thank you for being part of the Drop Zone family. We couldn't have done it without you. Cheers to the next chapter — wherever it may lead.

Drop Zone first opened in June of 2022, being a Veteran-owned business that featured a variety of beers along with some food options at its taproom.

The address for the now-closed Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom was 6 Michael's Mall, Winthrop, MA, 02152.

(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.)

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Mike & Patty's to Open in Lexington

The people behind a local group of breakfast places and sandwich shops will be opening a new location in the northwest suburbs of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Mike & Patty's is planning to open in Lexington, with a job posting within the indeed.com website indicating that it will be moving into a space at the intersection of Woburn Street and Lowell Street, a bit west of the Woburn border. Once it opens, the new location will join the original in Boston's Bay Village as well as others at High Street Market in downtown Boston, Jamaica Plain, and Bow Market in Somerville, along with a collaboration with Flourhouse Bakery in the Nonantum section of Newton and HotBox at Bow Market, the last of which is a pizza and roast beef spot that is under the same ownership as Mike & Patty's.

The address for the upcoming location of Mike & Patty's is 317 Woburn Street, Lexington, MA, 02420. The website for all locations is at https://www.mikeandpattys.com/

(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.)