An Sibin Opens in Cambridge's Inman Square

A new restaurant and pub that focuses at least in part on whiskey has come to Cambridge.

According to a source, An Sibin is now open in the city's Inman Square neighborhood, moving into the space that had been home to Richards, and before that, Tex Mex Eats and Tupelo. An earlier post here had mentioned (via Cambridge Day) that the place was looking to have the feel of a speakeasy with "a little bit more Americana, and have less of the Irishness," while its Instagram page indicates that its goal is to have "one of the largest whiskey [lists] in Cambridge" and being "your second living room."

The address for An Sibin is 1193 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/an_sibincambridge/

[Earlier Article]
An Sibin to Open in Former Richards Space in Cambridge's Inman Square

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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The Dubliner Is Opening in the Former Kinsale Space in Downtown Boston

Last fall, it was reported that a popular Irish pub in the heart of Boston had shut down permanently. Now we have learned that a new Irish restaurant and bar will be taking over the space.

According to a source, The Dubliner is opening in the space at Two Center Plaza that had been home to The Kinsale, with the website for the place showing a logo that indicates it plans to be "Boston's premium Irish bar" while featuring live music and sports (its Facebook page says it will be an "Authentic Irish Pub & Restaurant featuring Boston's best in hospitality, food, drinks, live music & sport"). No other information has been given on its website or its LinkedIn page, including who might be behind it or when it could open, so stay tuned for updates.

The Kinsale announced its closure in October after there had been hope that it could open back up; a note posted by Classic Restaurant Concepts, LLC--which also shut down The Asgard in Cambridge's Central Square at the same time--said that "In September 2020 an attempt was made to reopen, but with office buildings largely empty it proved unfeasible and the pubs ceased operations after four weeks. While the intention was always to reopen, the timeframe proved to be too daunting. Weeks turned to months, and the months dragged on. Both establishments were lucky enough to have cooperative landlords, but in the end even that, and PPP assistance, were not enough." (The Kinsale first opened its doors in 1998.)

The address for The Dubliner is 2 Center Plaza, Boston, MA, 02108. Its website is at https://www.thedublinerboston.com/ while its Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/thedublinerboston/

[February 25 update: According to a press release, Irish chef Aidan Mc Gee--who has worked at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants in England--and the East Coast Tavern Group (Emmet's, Roxanne's, Scholars, Carrie Nation, Sunset Cantina) are behind The Dubliner, which will offer such items as slow-cooked beef cheeks, fish and chips, shepherd's pie, curried mussels, Maine crabs on soda bread, and a Sunday roast.]

[June 27 update: A Facebook post from Oran McGonagle indicates that The Dubliner officially opened at 4:00 PM today.]

[Earlier Article]
The Kinsale and The Asgard Have Closed Permanently

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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Garcia Brogan's in Waltham Has Apparently Closed; Exact Status Unknown

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a pair of Mexican-Irish restaurants is back down to one, at least for the time being.

According to a Twitter post from @HarmyG, Garcia Brogan's is apparently closed, and the Facebook post from the Moody Street spot that was included in the link is now gone as is the entire Facebook page for the Waltham location. A reply from @brandnewwatch within the thread mentions that the place closed last weekend, while a check on the Facebook page for the Lowell location indicates that it is still in business--though an events page mentions a "re-launch" party for that location last week. As soon as we find out the exact status of the Waltham location (including whether it could return or be rebranded), we will post an update here.

Garcia Brogan's moved into the former Skellig space in Waltham in the spring of 2015.

The address for the now-closed Garcia Brogan's in Waltham is 240 Moody Street, Waltham, MA, 02453. The website for the Lowell location can be found at http://www.garciabrogans.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 Gate in Jamaica Plain's Egleston Square Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like an Irish pub and restaurant has suddenly closed its doors after less than a year in business.

According to a source, The Gate in the Egleston Square section of Jamaica Plain has shut down, with a real estate post seeming to confirm what our source told us--and confirming earlier chatter about its closure within the Jamaica Plain Facebook group page. There is much speculation as to why the Washington Street spot shuttered, but nothing has been completely confirmed as of yet.

Paul Byrne of the now-closed James's Gate on McBride Street was behind The Gate, which first opened in May of 2017 and featured a mix of Irish and New American fare along with beer, wine, and cocktails.

The address for this now-closed Irish pub and restaurant was: The Gate, 3171 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.

[March 23 update: The Jamaica Plain News has confirmed that The Gate has indeed closed for good, with Byrne now in the process of selling the restaurant. (Thanks to a source for bringing this to our attention.)]

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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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Mad Hatter Cafe in Weymouth to Move into Hajjar's Space

by Marc Hurwitz

A longtime South Shore restaurant is shutting down, and a nearby breakfast and lunch spot that has been featured by our sister site is opening in its space.

According to a source, Hajjar's  in Weymouth is closing, with the Mad Hatter Cafe moving from its current home on Main Street to the Washington Street space; a Twitter post from @scanweymouth seems to confirm this, showing a hearing agenda page that says the Mad Hatter is seeking the liquor license from Hajjar's to open in that restaurant's space. (The Town Solicitor also confirms this information on the Twitter thread, saying it is "legit.") It is not known what changes might be in store for the Mad Hatter if it does move into the new space, nor is it known when the move might happen--or if it might even be a second location rather than a move--so stay tuned for updates.

Hajjar's traces its history back to a roller-skating rink that was established in the 1950s and was converted into a fitness club with a dining area in the 1980s before becoming a full-fledged restaurant.

The Mad Hatter Cafe is known in part for its Irish-influenced breakfast and lunch items, including a traditional Irish breakfast, an Irish breakfast roll, beef stew, shepherd's pie, and chicken curry with rice. The dining spot has been mentioned on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site as an under-the-radar spot to go to, with the review being found here:

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

The address for Hajjar's is 969 Washington Street while the Mad Hatter Cafe is at 119 Main Street. The website for Hajjar's is at http://hajjars.net/ while the Mad Hatter can be found at http://madhattercafe.us/

[June 15 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Hajjar's closes for good tonight. (Thanks to a source for bringing this to our attention.)]

[June 22 update: A message from the place indicates that the Mad Hatter Cafe is indeed moving from its current home to the Hajjar's space, and that it will include dinner service and functions once it moves in.]

[October 4 update: According to multiple Facebook posts from the place, the Mad Hatter Cafe has closed its restaurant on Main Street and is now hiring for its new location in the former Hajjar's space on Washington Street, with the plan being to open sometime this fall.]

[October 18 update: A poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page says that the Mad Hatter Cafe has a target opening date of October 22 in the old Hajjar's space.]

[October 21 update: A new Facebook post from the place mentions that the Mad Hatter Cafe will not be opening tomorrow after all, but it is very close to opening.]

[October 31 update: An events page indicates that the Mad Hatter Cafe plans to have its grand opening on November 7.]

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

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James's Gate Property in Jamaica Plain Sold to Developer

Last year, we reported that a beloved Irish pub that once received a "best of" from our sister site had shut down. Now we have learned that its former home has been sold to a residential developer.

Universal Hub mentions (via the BLDUP site) that The Ballas Group has purchased three parcels of land in Jamaica Plain for $1,950,000, with one of the McBride Street parcels being where James's Gate had been until closing in September. The posts say that the three parcels had sold for a total of $135,000 back in 1997 (the same year that James's Gate opened).

James's Gate was a two-room Irish pub and restaurant that had been known in part for its cozy, traditional atmosphere on the pub side--including a fireplace--and its family-friendly dining room that was separate from the main bar area. The Boston's Hidden Restaurants site had featured it as an under-the-radar Irish pub and awarded it "best Irish pub" in 2014. The review for the place can be found below:

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

The address for James's Gate was 5-11 McBride Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.

[June 24 update: The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports that a proposal that includes the construction of a residential structure at the site of the James's Gate parking lot has been withdrawn, in part because it was not known what would happen to the James's Gate space itself. Community and committee concerns about this issue along with the proposed prices for the units--and the density of the units--led to the developers withdrawing the plans, with a revised proposal apparently coming at some point.]

[July 28 update: The Jamaica Plain News states that a new proposal has been given that would include the construction of a five-story mixed-used building in the space where James's Gate had been. (A presentation on the proposal was given yesterday by the developer.)]

[January 24, 2017 update: Universal Hub mentions that the Zoning Board of Appeals has approved of a proposal to replace the old James's Gate with an 11-unit condo development.]

[Earlier Article]
James's Gate in Jamaica Plain Has Closed

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Lesser-Known Bars in the Greater Boston Area]

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The Briar Rose in Hyde Park Has Closed

An Irish pub and restaurant has shut its doors for good after being in business for a bit more than a year and a half.

According to a poster within the Chowhound site, The Briar Rose in Hyde Park is now closed, with a check on the place's Facebook page confirming this. (The note says that "The Briar Rose would like to extend a big THANK YOU and FAREWELL to our amazing community of friends and neighbors! Thank you for standing by us for the last 20 months and welcoming us with open arms.") The pub first opened in May of 2014, taking over the space where Annabelle's had been; its menu included a mix of Irish and American fare with such items as clam chowder, calamari, pork chops, shepard's pie, fish and chips, chicken marsala, and meatloaf offered.

The address for this now-closed dining and drinking spot in Hyde Park was: The Briar Rose, 1300 Hyde Park Avenue, Hyde Park, MA, 02136.

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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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The Raven's Nest in Walpole Becomes The Patriot's Nest Once Again

An Irish pub and restaurant southwest of Boston is showing its support for the New England Patriots yet again as the team gets ready for a big playoff game this weekend.

According to an article in The Medfield Press, The Raven's Nest in Walpole Center has temporarily changed its name to "The Patriot's Nest" for the third time in the past four years, and the dining and drinking spot is hoping for a win in what is basically a rubber match (the Patriots beat the Baltimore Ravens the first time the pub's name was changed in 2012 but lost to them the following year). The article says that Ravens fans are more than welcome to enjoy food and drink at the place, and "may even feel comfortable sitting among the pub's raven purple."

The address for The Raven's Nest is 998 Main Street (Route 1A), Walpole, MA 02081; its website can be found at http://www.ravenpubs.com/ravensnest/

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Update: Kennedy's on the Square Is Opening in Cambridge's Harvard Square

An Irish pub and restaurant southwest of Boston is looking to expand, with a second location on its way to one of the busiest sections of Cambridge.

Eater Boston is reporting that Kennedy's Public House in Norwood is planning to open a new dining and drinking spot in Harvard Square, based on information given on the pub's website. It is not known where the new place will be, nor is there an opening date, so keep checking back for updates.

[February 16, 2014 update: A Twitter post from @BostonGourmand indicates that the new location of Kennedy's (which is going to be named "Kennedy's on the Square") is taking over the space on Dunster Street where First Printer has been.]

[September 29, 2014 update: According to a poster on the Chowhound site--and confirmed by the restaurant's Facebook page--Kennedy's on the Square is now open in Cambridge. The Facebook note mentions that the new place is "a classic American tavern offering gastro-pub inspired cuisine and tantalizing craft cocktails."]

One sidenote from EB is that owner Finbar Griffin is also behind Tommy Doyle's in Newton, which has different ownership from the recently-closed Tommy Doyle's in Harvard Square.

The original Kennedy's Public House is located within the the Hampton Inn on Route 1 in Norwood. Its website can be found at http://www.kennedyspublichouse.com/

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve More of the Best Food Dishes of 2013]

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Kennedy's Public House Is Opening in Norwood

It looks like an Irish pub and restaurant is on its way to Norwood, and it will be opening inside a hotel.

According to a job post on the Craigslist site, Kennedy's Public House is planning to open in early July and is currently looking to hire staff for its place. A page on the Bill Shea's Replacement Countertops site indicates that the eating and drinking spot will be located within the Hampton Inn on Route 1, though the hotel site does not appear to mention anything about it as of yet.

[August 12 update: The Norwood Transcript and Bulletin mentions that Kennedy's Public House is now open (it actually opened last month), with owner Finbar Griffin saying that it is looking to have an "in-town, upscale feel at a downtown price." Griffin, who also is behind such places as Mick Morgan's and Tommy Doyle's, says that the eating and drinking establishment takes its name from John F. Kennedy, with the focus being on the President's trip to Ireland in 1963. A few menu items at Kennedy's include short rib spring rolls, fried oysters, grilled tilapia, lobster linguine, beef wellington, and lamb chops.]

The address for this new Irish pub and restaurant in Norwood is: Kennedy's Public House, 434 Providence Highway (Route 1), Norwood, MA, 02062. The website for the Hampton Inn can be found at http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/massachusetts/hampton-inn-boston-norwood-BOSNWHX/index.html

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Breads 'n Bits of Ireland in Melrose to Close

An Irish bakery in Melrose that has been in business for nearly a quarter century is getting ready to close its doors.

The Melrose Free Press/Wicked Local is reporting that Breads 'n Bits of Ireland, which is located on Main Street in the city's downtown area, will be shuttering in June. The article mentions that the bakery, which first opened more than 23 years ago, is closing down because the owner is "past retirement age and is ready for a break."

[July 2 update: Based on a note from a veteran poster on the Chowhound site, Breads 'n Bits of Ireland is now closed.]

Breads 'n Bits of Ireland has featured an array of baked goods over the years, including scones, Irish bread, and soda muffins. The bakery is also known for its soups, sandwiches, and beef stew.

The address for this soon-to-close bakery in Melrose is: Breads 'n Bits of Ireland, 530 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176.

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Townsend's in Hyde Park Has Closed

A restaurant and pub in Hyde Park that Boston's Hidden Restaurants (our sister site) recently picked as the best Irish restaurant and pub in the Boston area has closed its doors.

An email sent by one of our readers stated that Townsend's on Fairmount Avenue was closing, and a subsequent check on the business shows that the place is indeed shuttered, with notices on the front indicating that the restaurant is no longer in the space. No other information was given in the notices, and it is not known exactly which day Townsend's shut down, nor is it known whether the restaurant will be moving to another spot (see comment below).

Townsend's first opened in early 2008, bringing to Hyde Park a place to get a mix of Irish, New American, and traditional American dishes, along with a variety of beer and wine. The dining and drinking establishment was picked by Boston's Hidden Restaurants as the best little-known Irish pub for 2011, and it has been featured within the site as well. The review of Townsend's can be found at the link below:

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

The address for this now-closed restaurant and pub in Hyde Park was: Townsend's, 81 Fairmount Avenue, Hyde Park, MA, 02136.

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