Bertucci's in Reading Has Closed

Yet another location of a local chain of Italian restaurants continues to shrink, this time closing a location in the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a source, Bertucci's in Reading is no longer in business, with a Reading Recap article saying that the Walkers Brook Drive shuttered a couple of days ago. With the closing of this location, that means there the only four left inside/along Route 128, in West Roxbury, Newton, Medford, and Waltham, along with a Bertucci's Pronto in downtown Boston. (Other Bertucci's outlets inside/along Route 495 can still be found in Hingham, Framingham, and Chelmsford.)

The address for the now-closed Reading location of Bertucci's was 45 Walkers Brook Drive, Reading, MA, 01867. The website for all locations is at https://www.bertuccis.com/

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Michael G's in Chelsea Has Closed

An Italian restaurant just north of Boston has shut down.

According to a source, Michael G's in Chelsea is no longer in business, with the social media for the Revere Beach Parkway confirming this, saying that it has indeed closed, though keeping the possibility open for possibly reopening the place in the future. Michael G's first opened approximately five years ago within the Chelsea Commons shopping center, offering such options as soups, salads, pizza, pasta dishes, subs, grill items, and more.

The address for the now-closed Michael G's was 1066 Revere Beach Parkway, Chelsea, MA, 02150

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Grotto in Boston's Beacon Hill to Close

A longtime Italian restaurant in the heart of Boston is shutting down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via a boston.com article), Grotto in the city's Beacon Hill neighborhood is going to be closing its doors, with a message on the website for the Bowdoin Street dining spot saying the following:

With mixed emotions, I want to share that Grotto will be closing later this summer. This has been a very difficult decision, but the time has come for a new chapter. While an exact closing date has not yet been set, our lease will expire in September, and we will keep you all up to date on our last night of service. Until then, we will continue dinner service seven days a week, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. I hope you'll come visit us before we say goodbye. To all our incredible staff, past and present, and to everyone who has dined with us over the years: thank you. You've made Grotto the special place it has been, and I will carry those memories with me always. Scott

Grotto first opened in 2003, with the subterranean restaurant being a neighborhood spot featuring such dishes as bolognese, gnocchi, chicken parmigiana, spaghetti and meatballs, grilled beef tenderloin, and pan-roasted salmon.

The address for Grotto is 37 Bowdoin Street, Boston, MA, 02114.

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Sons of Sicily in Saugus Is Closing, Could Be Reborn in New Location

A North Shore eatery known in part for its Sicilian pizza is closing, though it may open back up in another space at some point.

According to a Facebook post from the business, Sons of Sicily in Saugus is shutting down, with the Lincoln Avenue spot saying the following:

We know there's been a lot of chatter and questions lately, so we wanted to share this with you directly. After much thought and careful consideration, we've made the difficult decision to sell and move on from Sons of Sicily. The rising costs and high rent have made it impossible for us to continue operating the way we believe in—with quality, love, and care for our craft and community. That said, this isn't goodbye forever. We're already on the hunt for a new location and a fresh start, and we'll be sure to keep you posted on our next chapter.

In addition to Sicilian pizza, Sons of Sicily's has also been known for its variety of hot and cold subs along with arancini, salads, pasta dishes, rice bowls, and more.

The address for Sons of Sicily is 508 Lincoln Avenue, Saugus, MA, 01906. Its website is at https://sonsofsicilyeatery.com/

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Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington Is Closing; New Concept on the Way to the Space

A group of upscale Italian restaurants and markets will be closing one of its Boston-area locations, though a new concept appears to be taking over the space.

According to a source, Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington is getting ready to shut down, with a Facebook post from Tuscan Brands saying the following:

After nearly 11 unforgettable years, Tuscan Kitchen Burlington will be closing its doors on Sunday, August 3rd. Since opening on October 15, 2014, this location has been more than just a restaurant—it was the heartbeat that helped build Tuscan Brands into what it is today. We’re endlessly grateful to the Burlington community, our loyal guests, and the dedicated team who made this place feel like home. While we say goodbye to this chapter, we're thrilled to share that we'll be returning to the same space with an entirely new concept—crafted for the residents of Burlington and the travelers passing through.

The Burlington location of Tuscan Kitchen was the second location to open, joining the original location in Salem, NH which first opened its doors in 2010; another location debuted in Boston's Seaport District in 2017.

The address for Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington is 2400 District Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for all three locations is at https://www.tuscanbrands.com/tuscan-kitchen/

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Rabia's Dolce Fumo in Boston's North End Has Closed

A North End restaurant that was known in part for its seafood has shut down.

According to a source, Rabia's Dolce Fumo on Salem Street is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the dining spot saying the following:

2,034 days in a chapter we’ll never forget. From our opening day on December 2, 2019, three months before the official declaration of the nation’s pandemic, to our closing night on June 26, 2025, the past five years were nothing short of a wild ride. From our hard working and dedicated team, to our patrons who honored us by celebrating life’s important moments with us, and to our loyal families and friends who supported us the whole way, we are FOREVER GRATEFUL. It was time to close this chapter and for us to explore new endeavors (stay tuned).

Rabia's offered such dishes as clam chowder, oysters, antipasto, steamed mussels, lobster rolls, linguini with clams, frutti di mare, steamed lobsters, fettuccine carbonara, bolognese, and veal parmigiana.

The address for the now-closed Rabia's Dolce Fumo was 73 Salem Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

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Vita Bella Ristorante in Essex Has Closed

An Italian restaurant on the North Shore has closed its doors.

According to a Facebook thread within the Essex, MA--Notices and Issues Facebook group page, Vita Bella Ristorante is no longer in business, with an auction page confirming this, saying "Vita Bella Ristorante Restaurant Auction" and "Restaurant closing down permanently" while showing the location of the auction as the address of the dining spot. (A check on its website indicates that it has been taken down, as has its Facebook page.) Vita Bella first opened in the summer of 2023, taking over the space where Windward Grille had previously been.

The address for the now-closed Vita Bella Ristorante was 109 Eastern Avenue (Route 133), Essex, MA, 01929.

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La Toscana's in Wellesley Has Closed

An Italian restaurant in the western suburbs that started out as a pizzeria has shut down.

According to an article from The Swellesley Report, La Toscana's in Wellesley is no longer in operation, with the Central Street dining spot saying the following on its website:

Sadly, we will be closing our doors. I want to thank everyone who has dined with us over the years for their patronage. In today's economy, a business must remain busy in order to survive, and we unfortunately were unable to produce enough revenue to sustain this business.

La Toscana's first opened in the spring of 2022, initially focusing on pizza but morphing into an Italian restaurant with a full liquor bar last year.

The address for the now-closed La Toscana's was 99 Central Street, Wellesley, MA, 02482.

Thanks to Adam Gaffin of Universal Hub for initially bringing this to our attention.

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Zocca Cucina Italiana Is Opening in Dedham

A new Italian restaurant is on its way to the southwest suburbs of Boston, and it will have an ownership connection to a couple of other dining spots in the local area.

According to an email, Zocca Cucina Italiana is planning to open in Dedham, offering seasonal Italian fare with roots in the Northern Italy town of Zocca. The people behind Molinari's in Dorchester and Ravello in Watertown are opening the Dedham Square spot, which will offer such options as wood-fired pizza, house-made pasta, wine, and cocktails. 

The address for Zocca Cucina Italiana is 585 High Street, Dedham, MA, 02026. Its website can be found at https://www.zoccadedham.com/

[August 6 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Zocca Cucina Italiana is now open in Dedham.]

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Sul Tavolo in Sudbury Has Closed

An Italian restaurant in the western suburbs of Boston has closed after only a few months in operation.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Sul Tavolo in Sudbury is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the Hudson Road spot saying "Thank you for your loyal support over the years. It's been an honor to serve you. As of [yesterday], we are permanently closed." The restaurant first opened in January of this year, replacing a Mexican spot called Sobre Mesa that was under the same ownership, and previous to that, the space was home to 29 Rustic Mediterranean which also had the same ownership. (A popup version of Sul Tavolo briefly resided at the site in 2023.)

The people behind Sul Tavolo also run Nan's Kitchen, which can be found in Stow, Southborough, and Westford, with a new one soon opening in Andover.

The address for the now-closed Sul Tavolo was 29 Hudson Road, Sudbury, MA, 01776.

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Caffe dello Sport Opens in East Boston

Last summer, it was reported that an espresso bar in Boston's North End was planning to expand to a second location within the city, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According a Facebook post from the business, Caffe dello Sport is now open in East Boston, moving into a space on Saratoga Street in the Orient Heights neighborhood. The new location joins the one on Hanover Street, and it is open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily--and based on one of the photos on Facebook, the new spot is serving alcohol.

Caffe dello Sport has been in the North End for more than 30 years, originally being in a space across the street from its current location.

The address for the new location of Caffe dello Sport in East Boston is 973 Saratoga Street, East Boston, MA, 02128. The website for the business can be found at https://www.caffedellosport.net/

[Earlier Article]
Caffe dello Sport in Boston's North End Is Expanding to East Boston

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Bambola! and The Girl Next Door Plan to Open in Boston's Seaport District

Two more dining and drinking spots from a local restaurant group appear to be on their way to the Boston waterfront.

According to the website for the Sneaky Good Hospitality Group, Bambola! and The Girl Next Door are both looking to open in the city's Seaport District, with the former being an Italian restaurant while the latter will be a neighborhood spot with comfort food, Italian dishes, and cocktails. A licensing board hearing page indicates that Bambola! plans to take over the Seaport Social space on Northern Avenue, though no address has been given as of yet for The Girl Next Door.

Tyrone Di Stasi, Richard Sullivan, and Jairo Dominguez are behind Sneaky Good Hospitality Group, which currently operates Flamingo in the North End, Rock & Rye in the Theatre District, Pinky's in the Back Bay, and Blondie's in Brighton. The website for the restaurant group is at https://www.sneakygoodhospitality.com/

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Boathouse Bistro Is Moving from The Launch at Hingham Shipyard to the Nantasket Beach Resort in Hull

A South Shore restaurant that is known for its Italian fare and its seafood dishes will be moving to a new space one town away.

According to an article from the Hingham Anchor, the Boathouse Bistro is planning to move from its current home at The Launch at Hingham Shipyard to Nantasket Beach Resort in Hull, taking over the space that had been home to Shoreline Kitchen & Bar. The article mentions that the new space will be much larger, having room for functions, special events, and catering, and it will continue to offer pizza, as the space will include a wood-burning oven. If all goes as planned, the restaurant could open in its new space in early June. (As mentioned in another article, Salty Days is taking over Boathouse Bistro's Hingham space.)

Boathouse Bistro first opened at the Shipyard in 2015.

The new address for Boathouse Bistro will be 45 Hull Shore Drive, Hull, MA, 02045. Its website can be found at https://www.boathousebistrohingham.com/

[June 25 update: An Instagram post from the business indicates that Boathouse Bistro said farewell to its Hingham location yesterday, with an opening date for its new location in Hull coming soon.]

[July 7 update: According to a source, Boathouse Bistro is now open in Hull (lunch only for now).]

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Bertucci's Declares Bankruptcy Yet Again, Closes Locations in Braintree, Mansfield, North Andover, Norwood, and Plymouth

A local chain of Italian restaurants has declared bankruptcy once again, and with it, at least five more locations in the region have closed.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via the nrn.com website), Bertucci's has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, while also saying that outlets in Braintree, Mansfield, and North Andover have shuttered (we also learned that the Norwood and Plymouth locations closed as well), and this has all been confirmed on the chain's website (all five have been removed from the locations section). The closing of these three Bertucci's means that the only ones left inside Route 495 are in West Roxbury, Newton, Medford, Waltham, Reading, Hingham, Chelmsford, and Framingham.)

As mentioned in an article here, Bertucci's--which had also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2018 and again in 2022--debuted a new quick-service concept called Bertucci's Pronto in downtown Boston this week.

The website for Bertucci's is at https://www.bertuccis.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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Strega Italiano in Boston's Park Plaza Has Apparently Closed

It looks like another location of Strega has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Strega Italiano in the Park Plaza area of Boston is no longer in business, with a check on the website for Strega indicating that that location has indeed been removed from the site. Back in 2020, locations of Strega in the Seaport District, Park Plaza, and Woburn were sold to Danu Partners while The Varano Group kept the original Strega in the North End (which is now called Strega by Nick Varano); that location along with the Seaport District location are the only two now remaining, as the Woburn outlet closed in 2022.

The address for the now-closed Strega Italiano was 64 Arlington Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the Seaport District location is at https://stregaitaliano.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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Bertucci's Pronto Has Its Grand Opening in Downtown Boston on April 23

Last fall, it was reported that a local chain of Italian restaurants was planning to bring a brand new takeout-friendly concept to Boston, and now we have learned that it is just about ready to debut.

According to a press release, Bertucci's cis slated to have its grand opening in the downtown area of the city on April 23, with its website mentioning that the Tremont Street spot will be a counter-service place that also has online ordering, and it will offer brick oven pizza, breakfast dishes, salads, sandwiches, and pasta options.

Bertucci's was established in 1981 in Somerville's Davis Square and is now headquartered in Northborough.

The address for Bertucci's Pronto is 22 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02108. Its web page can be found at https://www.bertuccis.com/locations/pronto-tremont/

[Earlier Article]
Bertucci's Pronto Plans to Open in Boston 

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Bottega del Sud to Open in South Boston

An Italian restaurant is on its way to South Boston, and it has an ownership connection to a Brookline dining spot.

According to an X/Twitter post from @chipsy231, Bottega del Sud is going to be opening at the corner of E 2nd Street and K Street, taking over the space that had previously been home to Thirst. The upcoming eatery is affiliated with Bottega Fiorentina in Coolidge Corner, with Instagram posts from that restaurant mentioning that the space is currently under construction and that an opening date is expected to be announced soon.

The address for the upcoming Bottega del Sud is 645 E 2nd Street, South Boston, MA, 02127. The Instagram page for Bottega Fiorentina is at https://www.instagram.com/eatbottega

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Bertucci's in Plymouth Has Closed

A local chain of Italian restaurants continues to shrink, as yet another locations has shuttered.

According to Nick Russo of NBC10 WJAR in Providence, RI, Bertucci's in Plymouth is no longer in business, with a check on the locations section of the website confirming this, as it has been removed from the site. Two others in the region have recently closed as well--in Holliston and Swampscott--and only three now remain inside Route 128 (in West Roxbury, Newton, and Medford) while other outlets between Routes 128 and 495 can still be found in Braintree, Waltham, Reading, Norwood, Hingham, Framingham, Mansfield, and Andover.)

The address for the now-closed Plymouth location of Bertucci's was 6 Plaza Way, Plymouth, MA, 02360. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.bertuccis.com/

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LaRosa's in Andover to Expand, Opening a New Location in Newburyport

The people behind an Italian restaurant north of Boston will be opening a second location, with this one also being north of the city.

According to a source, LaRosa's in Andover is going to be joined by a location in Newburyport, with the Facebook page for the business indicating that it will be moving into a space in the Market Square section of the city. Based on their restaurant on Barnard Street in the downtown area of Andover, the new outlet could be offering such items as burrata, arancini, bruschetta, mussels, Caesar salad, gnocchi, bolognese, chicken parm, veal marsala, salmon, and cod.

The address for the new location of LaRosa's in Newburyport is 35 Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950. The website for the business can be found at https://www.larosasofandover.com/

[June 23 update: According to its social media, LaRosa's is now open in Newburyport.]

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Bertucci's in Holliston Has Closed

It looks like yet another location of a local chain of Italian restaurants has closed.

According to a source, Bertucci's in Holliston is no longer in business, with a check on the locations section of the website confirming this, as it has been removed from the site. This comes on the heels of a location in Swampscott shutting down toward the end of last year, with that one leaving only three remaining inside Route 128--in West Roxbury, Newton, and Medford. (Other outlets between Routes 128 and 495 can still be found in Braintree, Waltham, Reading, Norwood, Hingham, Framingham, Mansfield, Andover, and Plymouth.)

The address for the now-closed Holliston location of Bertucci's was 414 Washington Street, Holliston, MA, 01746. The website for all locations is at https://www.bertuccis.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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