Naya Opens in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

Last fall, it was reported that a growing group of Middle Eastern restaurants with roots in New York City would be expanding to a new location in Boston, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to a press release, Naya is now open in the city's Fenway neighborhood, and as mentioned in an earlier article here, it has moved into a space on Boylston Street where a location of Caffe Nero had been. The new location of Naya, which joins others in downtown Boston, the Back Bay, Cambridge's Kendall Square, Arsenal Yards in Watertown, and Burlington, features a garage-door-style facade that fully opens to the sidewalk, and it offers dishes with Lebanese influences including customizable bowls, wraps, salads, desserts, and more.

Naya first started out with a restaurant in Midtown East in Manhattan back in 2008.

The address for the new location of Naya in the Fenway is 1375 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.eatnaya.com/

[Earlier Article]
Naya Plans to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

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Woody's Grill & Tap in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Is Closing

A neighborhood restaurant and bar known for its wood-fired pizza is shutting down.

According to multiple sources, Woody's Grill & Tap in the Fenway section of Boston is closing after business hours today, with a boston.com article confirming that the Hemenway Street spot is indeed shutting down. Woody's, which first opened in the late 1990s, has been a favorite among locals and college students alike over the years, offering pizza, wings, tenders, burgers, steak tips, fish and chips, bolognese, and more.

The address for Woody's Grill & Tap is 58 Hemenway Street, Boston, MA, 02115. Its website can be found at https://www.woodysfenway.com/

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Buitoni Spaghetti Bar to Open in Boston's Kenmore Square

A brand new Italian restaurant with an old name is going to be coming to Boston.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Buitoni Spaghetti Bar is planning to open in Kenmore Square, moving into the space on Commonwealth Avenue where Blue Ribbon Brasserie had been, and before that, Eastern Standard (which now resides within a nearby space at the Fenway Center development). The article states that Tuscan Brands (Tuscan Kitchen, Sorella) is behind the upcoming dining spot, which gets its name from a pasta restaurant in Manhattan's Times Square in the 1940s and 1950s, and that the new restaurant will get its inspiration from that long-gone place, being a retro spot that Max Faro (who is senior project manager of hospitality and development for Tuscan Brands) says will have a "time-gone-by Italian immigrant vibe....It's going to have one-pound meatballs, fresh spaghetti being made right in front of you all night long." If all goes as planned, Buitoni Spaghetti Bar will open in 2027.

The address for the upcoming Buitoni Spaghetti Bar in Kenmore Square is 528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

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Blaze Pizza in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Has Closed

Another Boston-area location of a group of pizza restaurants formerly based in California and now headquartered in Georgia has shut down, and now only one remains in the region.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Blaze Pizza in the Fenway section of Boston is no longer in business and has its windows papered over, with a check on the website seeming to confirm this, saying that it is now closed. The chain of pizzerias once had locations in the Theatre District, by Boston University, and in Burlington, but the only one still operating is at One Canal Park in East Cambridge (another can be found in Nashua, NH).

Blaze Pizza first started out in 2012, with investors early on including Tom Werner, Maria Shriver, and LeBron James.

The address for the now-closed location of Blaze Pizza in the Fenway was 1282 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for Blaze can be found at https://www.blazepizza.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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Joe's Pizza Is Opening in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

It looks like a second Boston-area location of a highly-rated pizzeria based in New York City is on the way.

According to a Bluesky thread from @l1samak.bsky.social‬, Joe's Pizza is planning to open in the city's Fenway neighborhood, joining another in Cambridge's Harvard Square that debuted in 2023. A licensing board voting agenda page within the City of Boston website confirms this, saying that the proposed outlet of the pizza spot is looking to open on Boylston Street and would include a service counter, indoor seating, and a year-round patio, with the place being open daily for lunch and dinner.

Joe's Pizza offers NYC-style slices of thin-crust pizza, with the original location being found in Manhattan's Greenwich Village.

The address for the new location of Joe's Pizza in the Fenway is 1363 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations is at https://www.joespizzanyc.com/

[June 2 update: According to its social media, Joe's Pizza is now open in the Fenway.]

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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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Viva Burrito in Boston's Fenway Has Closed

A pair of Mexican restaurants in Boston is down to one, as its newer location has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Viva Burrito in the city's Fenway neighborhood has closed, with a sign out front at the Peterborough Street space indicating that it shuttered earlier this week. The sign does indicate that the Franklin Street location in the Financial District will remain open, and that customers can continue to order online.

The Fenway location of Viva Burrito first opened in the spring of 2025, taking over the space where the original location of El Pelon Taqueria had been (El Pelon continues to operate a restaurant on Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton).

The address for the now-closed Viva Burrito in the Fenway is 92 Peterborough Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the business can be found at https://www.vivaburritosboston.com/

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Figaro's in Boston's Leather District to Expand to the Fenway

A popular Italian sandwich shop in downtown Boston is going to be expanding to another part of the city.

According to multiple sources, Figaro's in the Leather District is going to be joined by another location in the Fenway, moving into a space on Peterborough Street. (This has been confirmed in a Facebook post from the business.) Once it opens, expect a variety of sandwiches including such possibilities as an Italian, hot ham, steak and cheese, meatball, eggplant, chicken pesto, and more.

In addition to downtown Boston, there had once been a location of Figaro's at Revere Beach as well.

The website for Figaro's can be found at https://www.figarosboston.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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The Empanada's to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

A growing group of restaurants based in Florida will be expanding to Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Empanada's is going to be opening in the Fenway, with a picture showing the logo for the business in the former Tenderoni's space at the corner of Boylston Street and Kilmarnock Street. The Empanada's first started out in Key Biscayne and currently has a handful of locations in Florida, offering a wide variety of South American-style empanadas filled with such ingredients as beef, cheese, spinach, ham, chicken, shrimp, salmon, and more.

The address for the upcoming location of The Empanada's is 23 Kilmarnock Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations is at https://www.theempanadas.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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Fenway Grill & Bar Opens in the Former Thornton's Fenway Grille Space in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

A new restaurant has come to the Fenway section of Boston, moving into the space where a longtime dining and drinking spot had been.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Fenway Grill & Bar is now open on Peterborough Street, taking over the former Thornton's Fenway Grille space. The website for the place indicates that it is a comfort food spot that offers dishes with Mediterranean and Turkish influences, with its menu including such options as eggs with spicy sausage, lentil soup, shepherd's salad, baba ganoush, hummus, chicken kebab, lamb chops, Turkish flatbreads, roasted eggplant with grilled lamb, rice pilaf, and baklava.

Thornton's closed in the fall of 2024 after being in business for more than 30 years.

The address for Fenway Grill & Bar is 100 Peterborough Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at https://www.fenwaygrillbar.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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Pizzeria Regina in Boston's Fenway Has Closed

A location of one of the best-known pizzerias in the region has shut down.

According to a Bluesky post from @copleyscott17.bsky.social, Pizzeria Regina in the Fenway section of Boston is no longer in business, with a sign out front referring customers to locations in the North End, South Station, and Faneuil Hall. A check on the Regina's website confirms this, as the Boylston Street location has been removed from the site.

Pizzeria Regina first started out in the North End in 1926.

The address for the now-closed location of Pizzeria Regina in the Fenway was 1330 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the business can be found at http://www.pizzeriaregina.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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Little Steve's Pizzeria in Boston's Back Bay/Fenway Area Has Closed

A pizza place in Boston that replaced another pizzeria with the same name has shut down.

According to a poster (Drew Starr) within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Little Steve's Pizzeria in the Back Bay/Fenway area of the city is no longer in business, apparently having very quietly closed its doors several weeks ago. The eatery first opened last spring in the Boylston Street space that had been home to the original Little Steve's Pizzeria which shuttered a few years ago after being in operation since 1968. (There was no ownership connection between the two Little Steve's.)

The address for the now-closed Little Steve's Pizzeria was 1114 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. 

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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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Time Out Market Boston in the Fenway Is Not Closing After All

Earlier this month, it was looking like a Boston food hall would be saying farewell this week, but now we have learned that it has been saved at the last minute.

Based on what a source told us earlier today along with a subsequent article from The Boston Globe, Time Out Market Boston in the Fenway will remain open, as a new operator will be managing the food hall. The article mentions that local real estate developer Samuels and Associates will be entering a partnership with Alexandria Real Estate Equities (owner of 401 Park) to oversee Time Out Market, and both the name and the vendors will remain as is.

A week ago Tuesday, it was announced that vendors were told that Time Out Market--which debuted in 2019 would be closing after business hours on Thursday, January 23.

[Earlier Article]
Time Out Market Boston in the Fenway 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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Time Out Market Boston in the Fenway Is Closing

It looks like a Boston food hall will soon be saying farewell.

Based on information from a source, and confirmed by an article in the Boston Business Journal, Time Out Market Boston in the city's Fenway neighborhood is closing down, with the BBJ saying that vendors have been told about the food hall shuttering. Time Out, which debuted in 2019, is home to a variety of food and drink vendors including Ms. Clucks Deluxe Chicken & Dumplings, Cusser's Roast Beef & Seafood, Blue Ribbon BBQ, A&B Burgers, Union Square Donuts, Lala's Neapolitan-ish Pizza, and Squeeze Juice Company.

We have been told a date that Time Out may be closing, though that date (which is in late January) has not been confirmed as of yet.

The website for Time Out Market Boston is at https://www.timeout.com/time-out-market-boston/

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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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Naya Plans to Open in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

A growing group of Middle Eastern restaurants with roots in New York City continues its expansion plans locally, with another new one on the way to Boston.

According to a poster (Patrick Maguire) within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Naya is planning to open in the city's Fenway neighborhood, moving into the space on Boylston Street where an outlet of Caffe Nero had been. Once it opens, the new location of the restaurant will join others in downtown Boston, the Back Bay, and at Arsenal Yards in Watertown, and expect it to offer dishes with Lebanese influences including customizable bowls, wraps, salads, desserts, and more.

The address for the upcoming location of Naya in the Fenway is 1375 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations is at https://www.eatnaya.com/

(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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Thaitation in Boston's Fenway Has Closed

A Thai restaurant in Boston has shuttered.

According to a couple of sources, Thaitation in the Fenway is locked up and dark, with a Reddit poster saying that a note out front at the Jersey Street spot indicates it has apparently been seized by the state. Phone calls placed to the restaurant go unanswered and no updates have been given on their website or social media.

Thaitation first opened in 2009, replacing the original location of Brown Sugar Cafe (another location of Brown Sugar Cafe remains open on Commonwealth Avenue by Boston University).

The address for the now-closed Thaitation was 129 Jersey Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

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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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Namastay Boston to Open in Kenmore Square

A brand new Indian restaurant is on its way to the Boston's Fenway area.

According to a source, Namastay Boston is planning to open in Kenmore Square, moving into a space next to Cornwall's on Beacon Street. The website for the upcoming eatery mentions that it will feature "bold, elegant Indian cuisine" including everything from "rich curries to vibrant street snacks" from various regions of India. No opening date has been given as of yet, with a sign out front simply saying "coming soon."

The address for Namastay Boston is 636 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at https://namastayboston.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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Lulu Green and Cafe Lulu Open at Time Out Market Boston

A South Boston dining spot known for its vegan fare has expanded to a Boston food hall, and a new concept from the team behind it has debuted there as well.

According to a couple of press releases, Lulu Green and Cafe Lulu are now open at Time Out Market Boston, joining the original Lulu Green on W Broadway in Southie. The new location of Lulu Green focuses on lunch and dinner options such as vegan burgers and burritos while Cafe Lulu offers quick-service items including pastries, baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and coffee.

As mentioned in an earlier article here, another location of Lulu Green is coming to Kendall Square in Cambridge, with that location planning to debut in June.

The website for Lulu Green can be found at https://www.lulugreen.com/

[Earlier Article]
Lulu Green Is Expanding, Opening a New Location in Cambridge's Kendall Square

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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 Halal Guys in Boston's Fenway Has Soft-Opened; Grand Opening Is April 11 and 12

Last summer, it was reported that a couple of growing chains were both planning to open locations within an apartment development in Boston's Fenway, and now we have learned that the second of the two spots is in the process of opening.

According to a press release, The Halal Guys has soft-opened, with its official opening taking place at some point soon--and the new spot joins a location of Dave's Hot Chicken which recently opened its doors as well. This is the fourth location of The Halal Guys to open locally, with others being in the Theatre District, South Bay in Dorchester, and Porter Square in Cambridge (another can be found in Shrewsbury).

The address for the new location of The Halal Guys in the Fenway is 1260 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the chain is at https://thehalalguys.com/

[April 11 update: According to a new press release, The Halal Guys has its grand opening in the Fenway today and tomorrow.]

[Earlier Article]
The Halal Guys, Dave's Hot Chicken Plan to Open at the Bon Apartment Complex in Boston's Fenway

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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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Viva Burrito Is Opening in the Former El Pelon Taqueria Space in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

The people behind a Mexican restaurant in downtown Boston appear to be opening a new location in another part of the city, and it will replace a location of a beloved Mexican spot that closed last year.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Viva Burrito is planning to open in the city's Fenway neighborhood, moving into the former El Pelon Taqueria space on Peterborough Street. Viva Burrito currently has a location on Franklin Street in Financial District (and it had previously been located on Staniford Street in the West End), and a source (Geoff Wong) confirms that this will be a second location of the restaurant.

El Pelon continues to operate a restaurant on Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton.

The address for the new location of Viva Burrito in the Fenway is 92 Peterborough Street, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the business can be found at https://www.vivaburritosboston.com/

[April 29 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants page mentions that Viva Burrito is now open in the Fenway.]

(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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Don't Tell Aunty Opens in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

Last summer, it was reported that an Indian gastropub was planning to open in the Fenway section of Boston, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to a message sent from the place, Don't Tell Aunty is now open on Boylston Street, moving into a space a short distance west of the Massachusetts Avenue intersection. An earlier article here mentioned that the place is considered to be the first Indian gastropub in the state, with the spot offering Indian tapas-style plates, fusion dishes, cocktails, and more along with live music. (Flying Lion Hospitality Group, which runs such restaurants as Madras Dosa Co. and Godavari, is behind it.)

The address for Don't Tell Aunty is 1122 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/donttellauntyboston/

[Earlier Article]
Don't Tell Aunty Plans to Open in Boston's Fenway Area

(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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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.)