Boston Halal to Open in the Former Blaze Pizza Space by Boston University

A local trio of restaurants that feature NYC-style street food will soon be opening a fourth outlet, and this one will be replacing a location of a pizza spot that closed a bit more than a year ago.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Boston Halal is going to be opening by Boston University, taking over the former Blaze Pizza space on Commonwealth Avenue. Once it opens, the new location of the Indian-Mediterranean spot will join others at Faneuil Hall, near Northeastern University, and in Somerville's Davis Square, and based on those dining spots, expect it to offer a variety of bowls and wraps.

The address for the upcoming location of Boston Halal by BU is 961 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations is at https://bostonhalal.co/

(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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Boston Halal at Faneuil Hall Is Opening New Locations in Boston and Somerville

It looks like a dining spot in downtown Boston that features NYC-style street food may be opening at least two new locations.

Based on multiple social media posts, Boston Halal at Faneuil Hall is planning to open shops in the former Starbucks location on Huntington Avenue near Northeastern University and in the former Grainmaker space on Elm Street in Somerville. Based on the original location, expect the new outlets to feature Indian-Mediterranean fare including a variety of bowls and wraps.

The website for Boston Halal is at https://bostonhalal.co/

[May 7 update: A post within the Davis Square Facebook group page indicates that the Somerville location of Boston Halal is now open.]

[June 6 update: According to a source, the Northeastern location of Boston Halal is now open.]

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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.)

  

Clay Oven Is Replacing Lexx in Lexington Center

A couple of months ago, it was reported that an award-winning suburban restaurant was closing, and now we have learned that a new dining spot will be moving in--and retaining some of the former restaurant's menu items.

According to an article from Wicked Local and the Lexington Minuteman, Clay Oven is opening in Lexington Center, taking over the old Lexx space on Mass. Ave. The post mentions that the new eatery will be an Asian fusion spot that offers Indian fare along with "modern twists," and it will also offer dishes that had been served by Lexx, while a post within the jobs section of bostonchefs.com indicates that it will be a casual upscale restaurant. If all goes as planned, Clay Oven could open early this month.

Lexx first opened in 2004, receiving numerous accolades from the local media for its New American fare, wine, and craft cocktails.

The address for Clay Oven (and the now-closed Lexx) is 1666 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA, 02420.

[September 11 update: The Lexington Minuteman mentions that Clay Oven is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Lexx Restaurant in Lexington Is Closing

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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Chinese Mirch in Boston's Symphony Hall Area Is Now Mumbai Spice

A restaurant near Symphony Hall that combines two types of Asian cuisine has gone through a name change--though it appears to be a similar dining spot.

According to a message from @TheDrewStarr, Chinese Mirch on Mass. Ave. is now Mumbai Spice, with a new sign up (though the old Chinese Mirch sign appears to remain up as well) and the interior seemingly not being renovated at all. As of this weekend, people were already dining in the place, though it is not known whether it was a soft opening or an official opening, and no information on the restaurant can be found anywhere online, except for a licensing board page from the city of Boston indicating that Chinese Mirch has indeed become Mumbai Spice, and that a change of manager has taken place.

As soon as we find out more about Mumbai Spice, we will post an update here.

Chinese Mirch first opened in the Symphony Hall area of Boston last November, featuring what they call "Chinese food made in India and fine Indian cuisine." The restaurant was part of a small chain of eateries that includes a location on Route 9 in Framingham that appears to remain open, at least for now.

The address for Chinese Mirch/Mumbai Spice is 251 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

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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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Suvaai in Cambridge Is Opening a Second Location in Woburn

A South Indian and Sri Lankan restaurant in Cambridge now has a second location, with this one being in the northern suburbs of Boston.

A note from tatsuikeda indicates that Suvaai on Mass. Ave. in North Cambridge (which is still apparently called Curry N Wok until it officially changes its name) is being joined by another location of Suvaai (which is apparently called Indian Express until its name officially changes as well) on Main Street in Woburn, with the new location of the restaurant possibly opening this weekend or next week. Both the Cambridge location and the new Woburn location are run by the people who were behind the now-closed Biryani Park in Malden.

In addition to South Indian and Sri Lankan fare, Suvaai also has some Indo-Chinese dishes as well.

The address for this new dining spot in Woburn is 465 Main Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for both locations of the restaurant can be found at http://www.snsmarketinc.com/

[Earlier Article]
Update: Biryani Park in Malden Is Reopening as Suvaai in North Cambridge

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Curry N Wok in North Cambridge Has Closed; New Concept on the Way

An Indo-Chinese restaurant in North Cambridge has shuttered, and it looks like a new spot will apparently be opening in its space.

A note sent from Rich O's Ravings indicates that Curry N Wok on Mass. Ave. is no longer in business, with the website for the eatery saying that "We are closed.Working on the new concept. We will update the opening date soon." Based on this note, it appears that the new concept may have the same owners, but this has not been 100% confirmed as of yet.

Curry N Wok first opened in November of 2013, replacing Copacabana, and before that, Garden of Eat-In Pizzeria and Good Food Cafe. The restaurant offered a mix of Indo-Chinese and Southern Indian fare.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in North Cambridge was: Curry N Wok, 2378 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140.

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Chinese Mirch Is Opening in Boston

A Chinese/Indian restaurant with one location in the MetroWest area and another in New York City is going to be opening a third outlet in a busy section of Boston.

Eater Boston is reporting (via a Licensing Board page on the City of Boston website) that Chinese Mirch is planning to open on Mass. Ave, near Symphony Hall where a location of Sebastians had been until closing in the fall of 2012. The article mentions that the new dining spot is hoping to include a 36-seat patio as well as indoor seating and apparently a bar area. Once it opens, the new Chinese Mirch will join another branch on Route 9 in Framingham as well as one on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. (Another location in Stamford, CT, has closed because the building in which it resided has been torn down; it is hoping to relocate.)

[November 21 update: According to a note on its Facebook page, Chinese Mirch opens its doors in Boston tomorrow.]

Chinese Mirch, which first started out in New York in 2003, features dishes that mix Indian herbs and spices with Chinese-style cooking.

The address for this new Chinese/Indian restaurant in Boston is: Chinese Mirch, 251 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115. Its website can be found at http://www.chinesemirch.com/

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Tantric in Boston Closed For Renovations

An Indian restaurant in the Theatre District of Boston is closed, and at this point its exact status isn't really known.

According to its website as well as its Facebook and Twitter pages, Tantric in the Transportation Building on Stuart Street is "closed temporarily for renovation," with its Facebook and Twitter notes being posted on January 5. The post on its website also says "Thanks for your past visits and dining at Tantric, and we look forward to serving you again. We will update and inform as soon as we re-open." Several phone calls placed to the restaurant over the past few days have gone to voicemail and there are no other messages as to its status on Facebook or Twitter.

Tantric, which first opened approximately ten years ago, has featured a mix of traditional Indian cuisine and "fusion gourmet" fare.

The address for Tantric is 123 Stuart Street, Boston, MA, 02116. Its website can be found at http://www.tantricbistro.com/

Thanks to a poster on the Twitter site for bringing this to our attention.

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Biryani Park in Malden Has Closed

A Sri Lankan restaurant north of Boston has closed its doors, though it may reopen in a new location.

According to a note on its website, Biryani Park in Malden is no longer in business, with the post saying that "We are looking for a new location and hope to reopen in the near future." The dining spot first opened in the summer of 2011, bringing to the Boston area a place to get Sri Lankan cuisine as well as Indian and Indo-Chinese fare. It is not known whether Biryani Park's food truck is out of operation as well; as soon as we find out, we will post an update here.

The address for this now-closed Sri Lankan restaurant in Malden was: Biryani Park, 105 Broadway (Route 99), Malden, MA, 02148. Its website can be found at http://snsmarketinc.com/

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this to our attention.

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Pronti Bistro in Needham Plans to Expand Closer to Boston

A restaurant in Needham that features a fusion of Indian and American food may be expanding closer to Boston.

Grub Street Boston is reporting that the people behind Pronti Bistro on 2nd Avenue are looking at sites in places that may include Allston, Cambridge and the Boston University area. Pronti, which first opened in Needham in the spring of 2011, offers an array of wraps using paratha bread, along with soups, salads, desserts, coffee, tea, smoothies, and more.

The address for their original location in Needham is: Pronti Bistro, 11 2nd Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494. Their website can be found at http://prontibistro.com/


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Mantra in Downtown Boston Is Closing

A French-Indian fusion restaurant in the heart of downtown Boston is going to be closing its doors.

The IndUS Business Journal is reporting that Mantra on Temple Place in Downtown Crossing will be shutting down, though no specific closing date has been given as of yet. The article mentions that the group behind the eatery--One World Cuisine--is "repositioning" their chain of Boston-area restaurants, which includes Kashmir and Mumbai Chopstix in the Back Bay, Mela in the South End, Bukhara in Jamaica Plain, Dosa Factory in Cambridge's Central Square (and soon, Waltham), and Diva Bistro in Somerville's Davis Square, as well as the recently-closed Cafe of India in Cambridge's Harvard Square.

Mantra first opened in 2001, bringing to Downtown Crossing a place to get such dishes as chicken biryani, mutter mushroom masala, cumin-dusted halibut, tuna tartare, duck confit, tandoor-roasted veal chop, and seared diver scallops.

The address for this restaurant is: Mantra, 52 Temple Place, Boston, MA, 02111.

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Biryani Park Opens in Malden

A market in Malden has just opened what may be Boston's first--and only--Sri Lankan restaurant.

According to their website, S & S Market, Inc has opened Biryani Park, bringing to the area a place to get what one Chowhound poster says is Sri Lankan, Indian, and Indo-Chinese food. The menu at Biryani Park includes such dishes as baby corn soup, paneer pakora, sesame chicken, masala dosas, curd rice, goat biryani, dhal tadka, fish curry, lamb saag, and vegetable fried rice.

Biryani Park is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Hours for both the market and the restaurant appear to be 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM.

The address for this new Sri Lankan restaurant is: Biryani Park, 105 Broadway (Route 99), Malden, MA, 02148. The phone number is (781) 397-1307. And the website for the market and restaurant can be found at http://snsmarketinc.com/

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Ritu ki Rasoi Opens in Burlington

An Indian restaurant specializing in vegetarian cuisine has opened in Burlington, and the dining spot may be adding other types of ethnic foods to its menu soon.

According to their website, Ritu ki Rasoi has opened on Cambridge Street (near the Winn Street intersection), bringing to this northern suburb of Boston a restaurant that features Indian fare, and at some point, Indo-Chinese as well as Italian and Mexican dishes with Indian influences. The eclectic eatery currently features such menu items as paratha, samosas, chaat, paneer tika masala, vegetable biryani, and pani puri.

Ritu ki Rasoi is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, with hours being 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM Tuesday through Thursday and 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM Friday through Sunday.

The address for this new Indian restaurant in Burlington is: Ritu ki Rasoi, 207 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA, 01803. The phone number is (781) 229-8349. And their website can be found at: http://www.ritukirasoi.com/

Thanks to a poster on Chowhound for initially bringing this to our attention.

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Pronti Bistro Is Opening in Needham

A new restaurant featuring a fusion of Indian and American food will soon be opening in Needham.

According to the Needham Times and Wicked Local, Pronti Bistro plans to open at the corner of Second Avenue and Highland Avenue (just east of the Route 128 intersection), moving into the space where the old Backcare Basics store used to be. The article mentions that Pronti Bistro will feature quick-food with South Asian and American influences, including such dishes as paratha filled with chicken, steak, fish, cottage cheese, and eggplant. Breakfast will also be offered at the new dining spot, with bhurji (an Indian-style egg wrap) being one option. The restaurant will have a capacity of 30 inside the space, plus another 12 or 13 in an outdoor dining area that will be set up.

The article states that Pronti Bistro may have a soft opening in mid-February, with a grand opening in early March.

[April 1 update: According to a poster on Chowhound, Pronti Bistro is now open.]

The address for this new Indian-American fusion restaurant in Needham is: Pronti Bistro, 11 Second Ave, Needham, MA, 02494.

For more information on Pronti Bistro, please go to the Needham Times/Wicked Local link below.

Needham bistro to feature Indian food, American-style

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