Zodiac Is Replacing Cafe St. Petersburg in Newton Centre

An Eastern European restaurant west of Boston is in the process of changing into a new Eastern European dining spot under different ownership.

According to an article in The Newton Beacon, Zodiac is going to be taking over the Cafe St. Petersburg space in Newton Centre, with the place having new owners, look, and a "little bit of a different concept," according to Genna Itskin, who is one of the owners. The new restaurant will offer Russian food, though Itskin says in the article that "We Americanized some traditional Russian food to suit American  tastes, like Chinese restaurants do" in order to satisfy American customers, with the menu including such options as blini, beef stroganoff, chicken kiev, and less familiar dishes such as forshmak (herring mousse, rice chips, caviar, scallion, and chicken tartare) and pickled zakuska (sour cabbage with tomatoes, cucumbers, and mushrooms), while drink options will include Ukrainian beer and black currant infused vodka along with beer, cider, and more.

Zodiac will be open for dinner Tuesday through Friday and brunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays.

The address for Zodiac (and Cafe St. Petersburg) is 57-1 Union Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459.

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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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Playska in Cambridge's Inman Square Has Closed for Good

Last week, we reported that a sandwich shop in Cambridge with Eastern European influences was considering a name change--and possibly a concept change as well. Now we have learned that this will not be happening, and that the eatery has shut down for good.

Eater Boston stated yesterday evening that Playska in Inman Square has closed its doors, with a sign out front thanking customers for their patronage, and now Boston Magazine states that while Tim and Bronwyn Wiechmann had briefly considered morphing the Hampshire Street spot to a place called Bronwyn's Deli and Bakery, they ultimately decided that "we didn't really want a deli. That was the issue; not the concept." Playska had been in business for only six months, taking over the former Rosie's Bakery space.

Tim and Bronwyn Wiechmann also run Bronwyn in Somerville's Union Square and T.W. Food in Cambridge's Huron Village, both of which remain in operation.

The address for the now-closed Playska was 243 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

[Earlier Article]
Playska in Inman Square May Change Name to Bronwyn's Deli and Bakery

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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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Playska in Inman Square May Change Name to Bronwyn's Deli and Bakery

A Cambridge eatery that has been open for about a half year is looking to change its name to one that will be familiar to some diners.

According to a License Commission General Hearing page within the City of Cambridge website, Playska in Inman Square has filed a request to change its name to Bronwyn's Deli and Bakery. It is not known if any changes to the menu/concept of the Hampshire Street dining spot might come with the name change; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

Playska, which first opened in October if 2015 in the former Rosie's Bakery space, is a fast-casual spot that features salads, sandwiches, baked goods, and more with the menu items having Eastern European influences. The people behind the place--Tim and Bronwyn Wiechmann--also run Bronwyn in Somerville's Union Square and T.W. Food in Cambridge's Huron Village.

The address for Playska is 243 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website can be found at http://playska.com/

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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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