Fupo Cafe Opens in the Former Village Kitchen Space in Cambridge's Huron Village

Last month, it was reported that a neighborhood dining spot in Cambridge that focused on Italian and Mediterranean fare had closed its doors, and now we have learned that a new eatery has moved into the space.

A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston indicates that Fupo Cafe is now open in Huron Village, taking over the former Village Kitchen space on Huron Avenue. The menu for the new restaurant shows such items as flatbreads, grilled cheese, tuna sandwiches, tofu and roasted veggies, chicken and roasted veggies, garlic bread, coffee, and tea, and it appears that it is currently open for lunch, with dinner also offered Friday through Sunday.

Village Kitchen had been in the space for 23 years. 

The address for Fupo Cafe is 359 Huron Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its web page can be found at https://fupocafe.square.site/

[Earlier Article]
Village Kitchen in Cambridge's Huron Village Has Closed

(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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Simply Khmer Noodle House and Bar Opens in Chelmsford

A Cambodian restaurant north of Boston has been joined by a second location not too far away.

According to a post from @techghoul on Mastodon, Simply Khmer Noodle House and Bar is now open in Chelmsford, moving into a space at Summer Street Crossing off Route 4, just south of the center of town. The new dining spot joins Simply Khmer in Lowell, which has been serving traditional Cambodian fare in its Lincoln Street space for more than 15 years.

A menu for Simply Khmer Noodle House and Bar has not been seen as of yet (the restaurant soft-opened today); as soon as we find out what some of the offerings are, we will post an update here.

The address for Simply Khmer Noodle House and Bar in Chelmsford is 7 Summer Street, Chelmsford, MA, 01824. The website for the original Simply Khmer is at https://www.simplykhmer.co/

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

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

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[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Suasday Is Opening in Boston's North End

A Southeast Asian restaurant is coming to a Boston neighborhood that is known for its Italian dining spots.

According to Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting (along with an article from boston.com), Suasday is opening in the North End, taking over the Hanover Street space that had been home to Cobblestone Cafe until closing last fall. The article mentions that the upcoming eatery will feature Cambodian sandwiches (though an "Italia twist" with prosciutto, salami, mortadella, and provolone will also be offered) along with salads, desserts, and drinks, and that the group behind it is Blackfin Collective (Love Art Sushi, Love Art Udon, Poke by Love Art, Cloud & Spirits). If all goes as planned, Suasday could be opening in January, with lunch and dinner being offered--and possibly breakfast as well at some point.

The address for Suasday is 227 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/suasdayco/

[June 13, 2022 update: Eater Boston states that Suasday is now open.]

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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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.)

Petsi Pies in East Cambridge Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A trio of bakeries known in part for their pies is now down to just two, as one of their Cambridge locations is now closed.

According to a source, Petsi Pies in East Cambridge is no longer in operation, with a check on the Facebook page for the business confirming that the Cambridge Street shop shut down over the weekend. It appears that locations of the bakery on Putnam Street in Cambridge (which is a bakery-cafe) and Beacon Street in Somerville (which is a bakery and coffee bar) remain in operation.

The East Cambridge location of Petsi Pies had originally been a few blocks away from its most recent location, with both locations being on Cambridge Street.

The address for the now-closed location of Petsi Pies in East Cambridge was 594 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141. The website for the remaining two locations can be found at https://petsipies.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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Sweet Rice to Replace Wonder Spice Cafe in Jamaica Plain

by Marc Hurwitz

A longtime favorite for Cambodian and Thai food is going away, and it will apparently be replaced by another restaurant that features Thai cuisine.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website, Wonder Spice Cafe in Jamaica Plain is looking to transfer its license to Sweet Rice, JP, which would go into the Centre Street space. It appears that the proposed eatery has a connection to a Charlestown spot that is also called Sweet Rice; the manager listed for the Jamaica Plain location is Tasanan Boranmool, who is indeed one of the people behind the two-year-old Main Street restaurant, according to an earlier article posted here. As noted before, the Charlestown restaurant features Thai food and sushi, though it is not yet known if the Jamaica Plain location of Sweet Rice would have a similar menu.

Wonder Spice Cafe has been featured by our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as a place to go for a variety of Southeast Asian dishes, with the review being found at this link:

https://hiddenboston.com/WonderSpice.html

The address for Wonder Spice Cafe (and the proposed Sweet Rice) is 697 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.

[August 24 update: Eater Boston confirms that this will be a second location of Sweet Rice and that it will offer the same items as that of the Charlestown restaurant. It looks like the Jamaica Plain outlet might not be open until around the end of the year, and it is not yet known when Wonder Spice will close (as soon as we find out, we will post another update here).]

[March 6, 2019 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page along with a couple of posters within the Jamaica Plain Facebook group page, Wonder Spice Cafe is now closed.]

[April 30, 2019 update: Eater Boston states that Sweet Rice will open its Jamaica Plain location in early May.]

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

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The Elephant Walk in Cambridge Has Closed

A Cambodian and French restaurant in Cambridge has closed its doors after approximately a quarter century in business.

According to a poster on Twitter, The Elephant Walk near the city's Porter Square area is no longer in business, with a phone call placed to the Mass. Ave. dining spot confirming this; the voicemail message for the eatery says that it is closed "indefinitely" and thanks customers for their patronage over the past 25 years. It is not yet known why the Cambridge location of The Elephant Walk closed; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

Another location of The Elephant Walk can be found on Washington Street in Boston's South End, while other now-closed locations of the eatery had once been in Somerville, Waltham, and the Fenway/Kenmore area of Boston as well.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Cambridge was: The Elephant Walk, 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for the Boston location is at http://elephantwalk.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

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Owners of Middle East in Cambridge's Central Square Purchase Building

Last year we reported that a landmark nightclub and restaurant complex in Cambridge was faced with an uncertain future due to the possibility of its building being sold. Now we have learned that the owners of the club have been able to raise enough money to purchase the building themselves.

According to an article in boston.com, Joseph and Nabil Sater of the Middle East club in Central Square have bought the structure on Mass. Ave. that houses the complex. The article touches upon the issue mentioned last year about the owners possibly adding several floors of residential space above the club if they purchased it, though it is not yet known if this remains on the table.

The Middle East, which originally started out as a Middle Eastern restaurant before morphing into a music venue in 1987, consists of a club that features a variety of live acts in its upstairs and downstairs areas, along with a couple of restaurant, bar, and music spaces called ZuZu and The Corner.

The address for The Middle East is 472-480 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website can be found at http://mideastclub.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Middle East in Cambridge May Have to "Grow or Leave"

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Yumm Bai Food Truck Is On Its Way to the Boston Area

Yet another new food truck is planning to debut in the Boston area, and this one will feature food items found in Southeast Asia.

Eater Boston is reporting that Yumm Bai is looking to hit the streets soon, with the mother and daughter who will run the truck offering Cambodian fare, including  "Ma's Egg Rolls," with the egg rolls made fresh each day. Based on the truck's menu, expect to see such items as chicken skewers, prawn chips, lo mein, and shrimp fried rice in addition to the egg rolls.

According to EB, a Tweet from last month said that Yumm Bai could be opening sometime in August, while more recent pictures posted on its Facebook page show that the truck appears to be almost ready to hit the road.

[August 22 update: According to a post from UrbanDaddy, the Yumm Bai food truck is hoping to debut sometime next week.]

The website for Yumm Bai can be found at http://www.yummbai.com/

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Elephant Walk Is Moving from Beacon Street in the Fenway to former BoMA Space in Boston's South End

Earlier this week we mentioned that a restaurant in the South End of Boston had closed its doors. Now we have learned that the Fenway/Audubon Circle location of a French and Cambodian eatery is hoping to move into the space.

An email sent yesterday by the Not Kosher Blog indicates that Elephant Walk on Beacon Street is looking to open on Washington Street in the South End, taking over the former BoMA space. Earlier we had reported that the Fenway/Audubon Circle location of Elephant Walk was facing an uncertain future due to a new apartment building planned for the site, so this appears to be a move rather than a third location. (Another Elephant Walk can be found on Mass. Ave. in Cambridge.)

[October 16 update: According to @PatrickMBoston of Maguire Promotions, Elephant Walk is officially closed on Beacon Street, with a sign out front saying that they hope to reopen on Washington Street in November.]

[December 22 update: According to a Chowhound post from food writer MC Slim JB, Elephant Walk is now open in its new South End location.]

The address for the new location of Elephant Walk (and the now-closed BoMa) is 1415 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

[Earlier Articles]
BoMA in Boston's South End Has Closed
New Apartment Building Slated to Be Constructed at Elephant Walk Site in Boston; Restaurant Considering Options

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New Apartment Building Slated to Be Constructed at Elephant Walk Site in Boston; Restaurant Considering Options

It looks like a new building that houses apartments may be constructed in the Fenway section of Boston where a French and Cambodian restaurant currently resides, and the exact status of the dining spot is unclear at this point in time.

The Boston Business Journal is reporting that the Boston Redevelopment Authority will likely approve of the new apartment project on Beacon Street that would include the demolishing of the building where the Elephant Walk currently is. The article says that the restaurant has been offered a space in the new structure, though operations manager Richard Pile mentions that they may need to consider opening in another space due to the construction time of the new building. (It is not known whether this would be a third location while they wait for the Beacon Street location to reopen, or whether this would be a move.) The Elephant Walk also has a location on Mass. Ave. in North Cambridge.

The address for the Boston location of the Elephant Walk is 900 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.

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[New 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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The Elephant Walk in Waltham Has Closed

A French and Cambodian restaurant west of Boston has closed its doors.

According to a Twitter post from @BrandNewWatch (via the restaurant's website), The Elephant Walk in Waltham is no longer in business, with the dining spot saying that ​the locations in Boston and Cambridge (which are under separate ownership) will remain open. The Waltham location of The Elephant Walk had previously been home to Carambola, which first opened in the late 1990s and was mainly a Cambodian spot, with the place changing its name (and adding French dishes to its menu) about eight years ago.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Waltham was: The Elephant Walk, 663 Main Street, Waltham, MA, 02451.

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Groupon Offering Deal for Floating Rock in Cambridge, Even Though It Is Closed

A hugely popular daily deal site is currently offering a deal on Floating Rock Restaurant in Cambridge's Central Square. There is only one problem, however; the restaurant is no longer in business.

An email from Groupon that was forwarded to us by one of our Twitter followers today indicates that the "Deals Near 02139 to Use This Weekend" includes one for Floating Rock, with a "$6 for $12" deal that can be used this coming Sunday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Floating Rock closed its doors on February 21, however, so users of Groupon obviously need to avoid this deal.

A link to the deal is at http://www.groupon.com/now/deals/6-for-12-at-floating-rock-restaurant-e321t

Floating Rock Restaurant had been in business on Mass. Ave. in Central Square for about 10 months, and had previously been located on Shirley Avenue near Revere Beach.

Thanks to our reader for bringing this to our attention.

[March 2 UPDATE: It appears that Groupon has discovered the Floating Rock error, as a note on the page now states that the "deal has ended."]

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Floating Rock Restaurant in Cambridge Has Closed

It looks like a Cambodian restaurant that recently moved from Revere to Cambridge has decided to close for good.

According to its Facebook page, the Floating Rock Restaurant on Mass. Ave. in Central Square shut its doors last night after being in business for about 10 months in its present location. The Floating Rock, which had previously been located on Shirley Avenue near Revere Beach, featured an array of Cambodian and Southeast Asian dishes, including satay, tiger tear salad, chicken coconut soup, beef stew, curry pork in pickled fish sauce, fried fish with mango, and spicy chili beef.

It is not yet known what might be going into the Floating Rock space.

The address for this now-closed Cambodian restaurant in Central Square was: Floating Rock Restaurant, 485 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for alerting us of this.

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Garden of Eat-In Pizzeria Opens in Cambridge

An new eatery has opened in North Cambridge, moving into the space where another dining spot had been until shutting down recently.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, The Garden of Eat-In Pizzeria is now open on Mass. Ave. (near Cedar Street and Cameron Avenue). The new restaurant has taken over the spot where Good Food Cafe resided from 2007 until this past fall, when the sandwich and smoothie place closed its doors for good. The Chowhound poster states that The Garden of Eat-In Pizzera offers Italian food, pizzas, and sandwiches, while the Superpages site mentions that the place is open for lunch and dinner, with hours being 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Sundays.

The address for this new spot in North Cambridge is: Garden of Eat-In Pizzeria, 2378 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140.

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Floating Rock Restaurant Moving from Revere to Cambridge

A highly rated Cambodian restaurant in Revere is going to be moving a bit closer to Boston. According to the restaurant's Facebook page, Floating Rock will make the move from 144 Shirley Avenue near Revere Beach to 485 Mass. Ave. in the Central Square section of Cambridge. Based on the floor plan posted on Facebook, the new Floating Rock restaurant should be larger than the Revere location, and the opening of the restaurant will probably happen soon, as they are accepting applications for a variety of jobs.

[March 25, 2011 update: According to the Thrillist site, the new Floating Rock Restaurant in Cambridge had been planning to have a soft opening today (thanks to Boston-area food/drinks writer MC Slim JB for bringing this to our attention), but based on a note from the restaurant that was forwarded to us via email, there is a delay in their opening due to a final inspection that still needs to be passed. As a result, it looks like the soft opening will be pushed back at least a couple more days; as soon as they get the ok to open, we will post an update here.]

[April 18, 2011 update: According to their Facebook page, Floating Rock is in the middle of a soft opening right now.]

Floating Rock, a casual, inexpensive place that features authentic Cambodian cuisine, has been favored by locals and foodies alike since its opening in the early part of the last decade.

The address for this new restaurant in Cambridge is: Floating Rock, 485 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139. The phone number is (617) 455-4009. And the website can be found at: http://floatingrockrestaurant.com/

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