Taco Party in Somerville's Ball Square Is Closed; Exact Status Unknown

A vegan Mexican restaurant in Somerville has shuttered, and it isn't known what the future holds for the place.

According to a source (Jesse Nicole), Taco Party in Ball Square is locked up and dark, with an Instagram post from owner Sarah Ramirez from last week saying the following:

I have reached a point in my personal life where I can no longer be the boss that I aspire to be. Now I need to take my own advice. So, this will be the last week that I will be at Taco Party, and the restaurant will be temporarily closed after Sunday, March 30th, until further notice. I don't know where things are going to go lead with Taco Party, but as soon as there's any news, there will be posts about it.

The post also gives a link to a fundraiser for the restaurant's staff.

Taco Party first opened in 2015, with Ramirez starting there in 2019 and taking ownership of the place last year; in addition to meatless tacos, the dining spot has also offered such items as chips and salsa, rice and peas, and frappes.

The address for Taco Party is 711 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at https://taco-party.square.site/

[June 26 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, we now appear to have confirmation that Taco Party is closed permanently, as a for lease sign has been posted out front.]

(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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Pound House Is Opening in Somerville's Ball Square

A new coffee shop is on its way to a Somerville neighborhood.

Based on information from a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants along with the website for the business, Pound House is planning to open in Ball Square, moving into a space on Broadway. A sign out front says that it will be a Vietnamese coffee shop while its website mentions that it will be serving banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich made with meat, veggies, herbs, sauce, all in a baguette.

No opening date has been given for Pound House as of yet (the website and sign out front both say "coming soon").

The address for Pound House in Ball Square is 703 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at https://www.poundhouseboston.com/

[May 19 update: According to an Instagram post from the place, Pound House has soft-opened.]

(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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The Blue Elephant Opens in Somerville's Ball Square

A brand new Thai restaurant has come to Somerville.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Blue Elephant is now open in the city's Ball Square neighborhood, moving into the space on Broadway that had been home to The House of Kebab, and before that, Yak and Yeti. The new eatery is open for lunch and dinner, with its website indicating that it offers a variety of Thai options along with other Asian dishes such as pho, ramen, and yakisoba.

The address for The Blue Elephant is 719 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at https://www.thaiblueelephant.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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Eat at Jumbo's in Somerville's Ball Square Is Up for Sale

A comfort food spot in Somerville that announced it was closed until further notice back in May is now on the market.

According to a source, Eat at Jumbo's in Ball Square is for sale, with owner Grover Taylor saying within the Boston Pizza Wars Facebook group page that "Its time for me to retire from the restaurant business." Eat at Jumbo's first opened in 2009, morphing into a vegetarian eatery called Sassafras in 2018 before reverting back to Eat at Jumbo's in 2020; the restaurant was known in part for its pizza and wings, while also offering such items as garlic knots, cheese fries, burgers, tacos, macaroni and cheese, steak bombs, and chicken tenders.

The address for Eat at Jumbo's is 688 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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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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Cristian Latin Opens in the Powder House Circle Section of Somerville

A brand new option for Salvadoran food has come to Somerville.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Cristian Latin is now open in the Powder House Circle section of the city, with the website for the Broadway eatery indicating that it offers both takeout and delivery and that its website says it has the "Best Salvadoreño food in Somerville." The menu for the spot shows such items as huevos rancheros, empanadas, plantains, guacamole, pork belly, chicken stew, papusas, burritos, tacos, grilled salmon, and flan.

The address for Cristian Latin is 854 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at https://cristianlatin.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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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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Eat at Jumbo's Is Returning to Somerville's Ball Square

A comfort food spot in Somerville that morphed into a vegetarian eatery is returning to its old space.

According to a Facebook post, Eat at Jumbo's is coming back to Ball Square, moving into the space on Broadway that has been home to Sassafras since the spring of 2018. Grover Taylor, who is behind both restaurants, may be doing some "Sassafras ticketed private dinners" in order to give a proper goodbye to that restaurant, though exact details have not been given as of yet, and it isn't known exactly when Eat at Jumbo's will officially reopen, so keep checking back for updates.

Eat at Jumbo's first opened in 2009, featuring such items as wings, pizza, sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, and more when it first opened, with the focus becoming more on vegetarian and vegan items before it changed into Sassafras.

The address for Eat at Jumbo's (and Sassafras) is 688 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144. The website for Eat at Jumbo's can be found at https://www.eatatjumbos.com/

[December 6 update: A new Facebook post from the place indicates that Eat at Jumbo's has opened, with takeout, delivery, online ordering, and a limited amount of indoor seating available. (The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.)]

[Earlier Article]
Eat at Jumbo's in Somerville's Ball Square Is Now Sassafras

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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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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Victor's Deli in Somerville's Ball Square Has Closed

A decades-old Italian spot in Somerville has shut its doors for good.

According to a source, Victor's Deli in the city's Ball Square neighborhood is no longer in business, with a licensing commission page indicating that Ball Square Cafe & Breakfast, which is located next door, may be expanding into the space. The Broadway eatery was known in part for its pizza slices and calzones, along with its hot and cold subs and its pasta dishes.

Victor's first opened back in 1982, according to its website.

The address for this now-closed dining spot in Ball Square was: Victor's Deli, 710 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[November 22 update: An Instagram post confirms that Ball Square Cafe & Breakfast will indeed be expanding into the former Victor's space.]

[March 9, 2020 update: According to an email, Ball Square Cafe & Breakfast has completed its renovations and has officially expanded into the old Victor's space.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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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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Avenue Kitchen and Bar in Somerville's Ball Square Opens Today in Former Pescatore Space

A brand new gastropub opens today in Somerville, moving into the space where a longtime favorite for Italian food had been.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Avenue Kitchen and Bar soft-opens in the former Pescatore space today in Ball Square and begins to take reservations tomorrow, with the Boston Avenue restaurant and bar offering Detroit-style pizza (a thick-crust pan pizza that is only found in a few spots around the Greater Boston area), duck wings, lamb spare ribs, salmon poke, fried chicken sandwiches, burgers, steamed mussels, Delmonico steak, cauliflower fajitas, and a variety of grain bowls along with craft beer, wine, cocktails, and Fernet on tap. The space includes a dining area, a small bar, and a back patio--and as was the case with Pescatore, a separate area is set up specifically for takeout. Avenue Kitchen and Bar will initially be open for dinner only, with brunch and lunch service coming later.

Pescatore closed down in January after being in business for approximately 13 years; it was known in part for its Italian seafood dishes and its pasta.

The address for Avenue Kitchen and Bar in Ball Square is 158 Boston Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at https://www.avenuesomerville.com/

[Earlier Article]
Pescatore in Somerville Closes; Avenue Kitchen and Bar to Open in Space

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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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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Sassafras in Somerville's Ball Square Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A vegetarian restaurant in Somerville that had once been a comfort food spot has shut down, and it appears that construction on the Green Line extension is one of the reasons for its closure.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Sassafras in Ball Square is no longer in operation, with the website for the Broadway eatery saying that "...we have become a financially unsustainable business. The closure of the Broadway Bridge only adds to that issue. We have sadly decided to close our doors and are taking steps to evaluate our future." The bridge closure that the note refers to centers around a long-term project that will eventually bring the MBTA's Green Line through parts of Somerville and Medford, and it looks like the Broadway bridge could be closed for approximately a year.

Sassafras replaced Eat at Jumbo's last year, which was under the same ownership and which first started out in 2009. That place offered such items as pizza, sandwiches, chicken wings, and macaroni and cheese, while Sassafras sold such items as cookies, muffins, vegan sushi, seitan steak chimichurri, and the Impossible Burger.

The address for the now-closed Sassafras was 688 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144.

[Earlier Article]
Eat at Jumbo's in Somerville's Ball Square Is Now Sassafras

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

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Pescatore in Somerville Closes; Avenue Kitchen and Bar to Open in Space

by Marc Hurwitz

A longtime favorite for Italian food has called it a day, and a new restaurant will be moving in.

According to a message from Christine Liu, Pescatore in the Ball Square section of Somerville closes today, with a Facebook post from the Boston Avenue restaurant confirming this, saying that "It is with a heavy heart that I [co-owner Anna Buonopane] announce the closure of Pescatore, effective January 11, 2019. The people of Somerville welcomed me, my husband, and my three daughters with open arms, and for that I will be forever grateful." The note hints that the space will not be empty for long, mentioning that "When one door closes, another one opens! Be on the lookout for a wonderful new restaurant and bar to open in the building soon! We hope you'll support and enjoy the new endeavor."

Pescatore, which first opened approximately 13 years ago, has been known in part for its Italian seafood dishes, with our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) featuring it as an under the radar spot. The review can be found at the link below:

https://hiddenboston.com/Pescatore.html

The address for Pescatore (and the upcoming new restaurant) is 158 Boston Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[January 15 update: Eater Boston mentions that a new gastropub called Avenue Kitchen and Bar is opening in the Pescatore space, with chef Kenny Schweizer (Nahita) and general manager Gino DeLuca (Florentine Cafe) planning to offer steak, seafood, and chicken dishes along with burgers and Detroit-style pizza, a thick-crust pan pizza that is only found in a few spots around the Boston area.]

[May 27 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Avenue Kitchen and Bar plans to open during the first week of June.]

[June 4 update: Boston Magazine states that Avenue Kitchen and Bar opens its doors tomorrow (Wednesday, June 5).]

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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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Eat at Jumbo's in Somerville's Ball Square Is Now Sassafras

by Marc Hurwitz

A comfort food spot in Somerville that has been adding more vegetarian options of late has morphed into an all-vegetarian eatery with a new name.

Eater Boston confirms what we have been hearing from sources over the past few weeks, that Eat at Jumbo's in Ball Square is now Sassafras, offering both vegetarian and vegan options at its Broadway spot. The article mentions that owner Grover Taylor is now creative director of the place while Christopher Silva heads up day-to-day operations, and that offerings at the new place include sugar cookies, cinnamon muffins, vegan sushi, seitan steak chimichurri, and an Impossible Burger that is inspired by McDonald's Big Mac. For now, Sassafras is open for dinner only on weekdays and a brunch is also offered on weekends, with weekday lunch service apparently coming at some point.

Eat at Jumbo's, which first opened in 2009, featured pizza, sandwiches, chicken wings, macaroni and cheese, and more when it first opened, and it started to focus on more vegetarian and vegan items over recent times.

The address for Sassafras (and the old Eat at Jumbo's) is 688 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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Sabertooth Vegan Bakery in Somerville Is Closing Down

A Somerville bakery that shares a space with a taco shop is calling it a day.

Eater Boston is reporting that Sabertooth Vegan Bakery in Ball Square will be shutting down within the next couple of weeks, as owner Evie Noël is planning to move to California so she can work on an animal sanctuary. In the article, says that "I'm sorry and sad to leave you all but I'm glad it's for a good reason and I know I'll be back in the kitchen (somewhere?!) someday. Thank you so much for everything." Taco Party, which is a vegan taco place within the same space on Broadway, will remain in operation.

Both Sabertooth and Taco Party first opened their doors in Ball Square last August; previously Sabertooth had been a baking business while Taco Party was set up as a food truck.

The address for the soon-to-close Sabertooth Vegan Bakery (as well as Taco Party) is 711 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144.

[February 18 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that it closed for good last weekend.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Great Desserts from Boston-Area Spots]

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The House of Kebab Replaces Yak and Yeti in Somerville's Ball Square

A Nepali restaurant in Somerville has been replaced by a new Indian spot, and it is connected to another Indian restaurant on the other side of the city.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Yak and Yeti in Ball Square is no longer in business, with a Davis Square LiveJournal post saying that The House of Kebab has taken over the space. The people behind Yak and Yeti are also behind The House of Kebab and also happen to be the owners of Kebab Factory, a dining spot on Washington Street that our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) has featured as an under-the-radar eatery for Indian fare. The review for that restaurant can be found below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/KebabFactory.html

Yak and Yeti first opened its doors in May of 2010, taking over the space where Golden Jade had once been.

The address for the now-closed Yak and Yeti (and new House of Kebab) is 719 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for The House of Kebab can be found at http://www.thehouseofkebab.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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Taco Party and Sabertooth Vegan Bakery Moving into Space in Somerville's Ball Square

A couple of months ago, we reported that a vegetarian taco truck was looking to open a brick-and-mortar spot in Somerville. Now we have learned that it will actually be a collaboration with a local baking business.

Eater Boston is reporting that Taco Party is teaming up with Sabertooth Vegan Bakery to open on Broadway in Ball Square, with everything offered from both businesses being vegan. Sabertooth is known in part for its wide variety of donuts, with cakes, cupcakes, and cookies also offered, and EB links to a now-deleted Facebook post from the bakery that refers to the upcoming shop as being an "all-vegan, taco-and-doughnut paradise."

It looks like if all goes as planned, the Taco Party/Sabertooth shop could be open by later this summer.

[August 23 update: UrbanDaddy states that Taco Party/Sabertooth soft-opens today in Ball Square.]

[August 25 update: Eater Boston states (via a Facebook post from the place) that Taco Party/Sabertooth officially opens "for reals" on tomorrow at 11:00 AM.]

The address for the new brick-and-mortar location of Taco Party and Sabertooth is 711 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for Taco Party is at http://www.tacopartytruck.com/ while the website for Sabertooth can be found at http://sabertoothbakery.com/

[Earlier Article]
Taco Party to Open in Somerville's Ball Square

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Items from Bakeries and Pastry Shops in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Taco Party to Open in Somerville's Ball Square

It looks like the people behind a vegetarian taco truck are going to be opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Somerville.

Eater Boston is reporting (via the truck's Facebook page) that Taco Party is planning to open on Broadway in Ball Square, with the Facebook post saying that "Checks have been written, keys handed over. I can now officially announce Taco Party the restaurant....I won't be so bold as to choose the opening date yet but we will act fast!" As soon as we hear of a possible opening date for the dining spot, we will post an update here.

The Taco Party truck, which debuted a bit more than two years ago, focuses on veggie tacos along with Mexican brown rice with smokey black beans and tortilla chips with pinto dip (both of which are gluten-free).

The address for the upcoming brick-and-mortar location of Taco Party is 711 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. Its website can be found at http://www.tacopartytruck.com/

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Yak and Yeti Opening in Ball Square, Somerville

A new Nepali restaurant is coming to the Ball Square neighborhood of Somerville, moving into the space where a Chinese restaurant used to be. Yak & Yeti will be opening on Broadway in the heart of the square, taking over the spot where Golden Jade was until closing a little more than a year ago.

Once open, Yak & Yeti will join a handful of other Nepali dining spots in the Boston area, including Kathmandu Spice in Arlington, Himalayan Bistro in West Roxbury, and Mt. Everest Kitchen in Allston.

[May 24 update: According to posters on both Chowhound and the Somerville Journal blog, Yak and Yeti is now open.]

The address for this upcoming Nepali restaurant in Ball Square is: Yak & Yeti, 719 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144.

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